Clinton in Pakistan for talks

Islamabad, 28 Oct-(ANA)-Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan on her first visit since becoming US secretary of state.

She will meet senior officials on Wednesday as part of a three-day visit accompanied by Richard Holbrooke, the US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Clinton's trip comes as the Pakistani military is involved in a nearly two-week long battle against members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the semi-autonomous tribal region of South Waziristan.

A number of issues will be discussed, including US drone strikes inside Pakistani territory, and an aid package that would give the country $7.5bn of US aid each year.

Last week, John Kerry, a US Democratic senator, held talks in the capital, Islamabad, in an attempt to counter protests over the aid package some officials said would “violate the country’s sovereignty".

Although the government defended the package, the military establishment expressed concerns about conditions that hinge some aid on efforts to battle suspected Taliban fighters.(ANA)

FA/ANA/28 October 2009