“The primary focus of Rocca’s visit is to hold discussions on bilateral issues with the Pakistan government,” said a US embassy spokesman when asked about the purpose of her visit. “Surely the Iraq issue would also come up during talks,” he added.

She visited the foreign office and held separate meetings with the foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar, which lasted more than two hours. Ms Rocca is likely to meet President Pervez Musharraf on Friday.