Islamabad:
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Pakistan on Friday to hold crucial talks with the country's civilian and military leadership aimed at addressing American concerns following the killing of Osama bin Laden in this country, diplomatic sources said.
Ahead of Clinton's arrival in Islamabad US Joint Chief of Staff's committee chairman Admiral Mike Mullen arrived in Islamabad today, the sources told PTI.
Clinton and Mullen will hold crucial meetings with Pakistan's top leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday to improve bilateral relations that have been hit following the killing of bin laden in a US raid in Abbottabad on May 2.
The sources said Clinton and Mullen were not visiting Pakistan in connection with the bilateral Strategic Dialogue which has been stalled following the Abbottabad raid.
In a bid to address US concerns about Pakistan's failure to detect bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad, a crucial meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Gilani yesterday said it would take pre-emptive action against terrorists across the country.
The US has been pressing Pakistan to conduct a probe to ascertain whether bin Laden enjoyed the backing of a support network in the country.
Ahead of her visit, Clinton said in Paris that the US will step up its support to Pakistan to "defend" its democracy from violent extremism, as she expressed concern over a spate of terror attacks on the country's military facilities, mosques and schools.
Ahead of Clinton's arrival in Islamabad US Joint Chief of Staff's committee chairman Admiral Mike Mullen arrived in Islamabad today, the sources told PTI.
Clinton and Mullen will hold crucial meetings with Pakistan's top leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday to improve bilateral relations that have been hit following the killing of bin laden in a US raid in Abbottabad on May 2.
The sources said Clinton and Mullen were not visiting Pakistan in connection with the bilateral Strategic Dialogue which has been stalled following the Abbottabad raid.
In a bid to address US concerns about Pakistan's failure to detect bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad, a crucial meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Gilani yesterday said it would take pre-emptive action against terrorists across the country.
The US has been pressing Pakistan to conduct a probe to ascertain whether bin Laden enjoyed the backing of a support network in the country.
Ahead of her visit, Clinton said in Paris that the US will step up its support to Pakistan to "defend" its democracy from violent extremism, as she expressed concern over a spate of terror attacks on the country's military facilities, mosques and schools.
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