U.S. defense secretary to visit Pakistan for talks on Afghan infiltrators, official says

[TexasLawyer]

U.S. defense secretary to visit Pakistan for talks on Afghan infiltrators, official says
The Associated Press
Published: February 11, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will visit Pakistan this week for talks with the president and top officials on cooperation in counterterrorism and efforts by Pakistan to stop militants from moving across the border with Afghanistan, an official said.

Gates, who will be making his first visit to Pakistan since becoming the Pentagon chief, is scheduled to arrive Monday, a senior government official said Sunday on condition of anonymity because he does not have the authority to speak formally about the visit.

Gates' visit comes amid a string of suicide bombings in Pakistan and fears for a renewed spring offensive by Taliban fighters in neighboring Afghanistan.

Pakistan — a close U.S. ally in its war against terrorism — has faced repeated charges that the Taliban militia stage attacks from Pakistan against Afghan government troops and NATO- and U.S.-led coalition troops. Pakistan denies the charges, saying it has deployed some 80,000 troops along its rugged border with Afghanistan to track down militants.

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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/12/asia/AS-GEN-P...