Rumsfeld in Pakistan for top-level talks

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was expected to arrive in Pakistan later today for talks with President Gen Pervez Musharraf and defence officials, a foreign ministry official said.

Rumsfeld was also expected to meet with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

A US embassy official in Islamabad confirmed the visit but refused to give any other details.

Pakistan is a key ally of the US in its war on terror, and Rumsfeld’s visit comes after Washington recently announced plans to sell US-made F-16 fighter jets to Islamabad.

It also comes after the US closed its consulate in the southern city of Karachi yesterday due to a security threat. The consulate was expected to reopen today.

The consulate was the scene of a car bomb attack in June 2002 that left 14 people dead, all Pakistanis.

Pakistani Islamic militant groups have been angered by Musharraf’s support for the US in its war on terror. Musharraf has banned several militant groups since the September 11, 2001, attacks in America.

Pakistani intelligence agents, police and other security forces have arrested more than 700 al-Qaida suspects, including some aides to Osama bin Laden, who were handed over to US officials for further investigations.