ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: US President George Bush’s deputy National Security adviser Stephen Hadley will be visiting Pakistan for consultations with the Government of Pakistan early next week, well placed diplomatic sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

Deputy National Security adviser Hadley will be the highest- ranking official of the US National Security Council to visit Pakistan during the present Bush administration and since President Pervez Musharaff took charge in October 1999.

Sources said the US official’s visit was meant to discuss regional security issues with authorities in Islamabad, New Delhi and Afghanistan. “His stay in Islamabad will be brief and he is expected to leave by the end of the day,” these sources added.

US embassy’s spokesman John Kincannon confirmed the visit on Wednesday but did not give its firm dates, saying that the visit would take place before the Eid.

The spokesman rejected the notion that the upcoming visit had been prompted by recent reports of Pakistan’s alleged nuclear cooperation with North Korea. “No, the visit is for routine consultations with the government of Pakistan on a variety of topics,” the spokesman said without specifying the topics.

Asked if any other important official would be accompanying the deputy national security adviser, Kincannon said: “There will be no second prominent personality coming with him. It will be just the support staff.”