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Inderfurth due on 20th

WASHINGTON: US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth, accompanied by two senior officials, is all set to arrive in Pakistan for two days of talks scheduled for January 20 and 21.

On his way, he will stop in London to be present at the latest round of ongoing Indo-US parleys on non-proliferation between Indian external affairs minister, Jaswant Singh, and US deputy secretary of state, Strobe Talbot.

Inderfurth will be accompanied by Donald Camp, a senior official at the national security council, and Michael Sheehan, coordinator for counter-terrorism at the State Department.

Inderfurth's talks with Pakistani officials will embrace the entire gamut of US-Pakistan relations, including economic cooperation, trade, terrorism and Indo-Pakistan ties. The United States has been worried about the deteriorating relationship between the two neighbours and the increasingly bitter exchanges that now routinely flow between the two countries.

Pakistan is also keen to put its relationship with Washington on an even keel.

The Pakistani side is expected to share with the Americans its future plans on the subject as well as outline some of the difficulties that lie in the way. APP