By KUNA
Islamabad : A high-ranking US delegation is in Islamabad to hold talks with the leaders of coalition government amid their intentions to review the war on terrorism policy of the Musharraf regime and rumors that the key US war ally would soon step down from his post.
John Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State, along with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher, arrived here Tuesday morning on a two-day visit.
According to official sources, Negroponte will hold back-to-back meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, newly elected Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Nawaz Sharif, leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and other top government and military officials including Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
The talks will mainly focus on the issue of counter-terrorism while, matters related to regional and international issues will also be discussed, said sources.
The unannounced visit of top US officials, before the oath taking ceremony of newly elected prime minister comes as PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the two coalition partners at the center, have said that they will review previous government’s current counter-terrorism policy.
This is Negroponte’s first visit to Pakistan after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the February 18 elections.