By KUNA,
Islamabad : US Assistant Secretary of State on South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher arrived here on Monday to discuss security and war on terror related issues.
The mission by the senior American official has coincided with an ongoing major security operation by Pakistani regular forces in the border tribal agency.
Boucher met with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani after his arrival, amid extraordinary security precautions in the city. During the meeting, at least two blasts were heard in the adjacent garrison city of Rawalpindi, creating panic among people and putting security on red alert.
The blasts were heard in the cantonment area and no details were yet available.
Authorities said that they were ascertaining the cause of explosions.
According to official sources, issues related to mutual cooperation in the ongoing war on terrorism and the new Pakistani government’s strategy in this regard and cross-border attacks were the focus of talks between the two officials.
During his three-day visit, they said, the US envoy will later hold meetings with senior military and foreign ministry officials and will be briefed on the ongoing operation in the Khyber tribal agency, located along Afghan border.
Meanwhile, senior military officials were also holding a crucial meeting in Rawalpindi to discuss internal security and strategic issues.
The visit by a senior US official coincided with media reports that the US has put on hold secret military plans for Pakistan.
According to the New York Times, top Bush administration officials drafted a secret plan late last year to make it easier for US Special Operations forces to operate inside Pakistan’s tribal areas as the frustration was mounting in the Pentagon over militant activities and resurgence in the border areas.