Clinton in Pakistan on Key Mission

Photo: AP

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, is greeted by Pakistani Chief of Protocol Ghalib upon her arrival at Pakistan Airforce Base, Chakala in Islamabad, Sunday, July 18, 2010

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan at the start of a tour of South Asia aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year war in Afghanistan.

She arrived Sunday in Islamabad where she will underscore the need for cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan in winning the war.  

Clinton will meet with top military, political and civilian leaders during her 2-day visit in an effort to reverse strong anti-American sentiment in Pakistan.

Officials say U.S. unmanned drone strikes in Pakistan aimed at militants, but which kill and maim civilians, have left a deep mistrust of America in Pakistan.

The talks in Islamabad are also expected to focus on assisting Pakistan in strengthening its infrastructure, including the areas of health, water, energy and agriculture.

Clinton will attend a crucial international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul Tuesday.  U.S. officials hope it will highlight the Afghan government's plan to improve governance and stability in the war-torn country.  

The conference will be attended by representatives from 70 other countries.

The conference is set to focus on steps the Afghan government is taking to reintegrate militants into society and crack down on widespread corruption.  

The meeting comes amid deteriorating security conditions, as Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces struggle to control a rising Taliban insurgency.  

Clinton will meet later in the week with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in South Korea, where talks will focus on increased tensions with North Korea about the alleged sinking of a South Korean naval ship in March.

Clinton ends her trip in Vietnam to attend the annual forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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