Avoiding controversy in India about US plans to send an "envoy" or "special envoy" to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell may himself travel to the two countries next week. Powell may also add a visit to Afghanistan to his itinerary, 'The Washington Post' said.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, when asked on Tuesday whether an official from Washington would be send to India and Pakistan to try to defuse the situation, said he would dispute the use of the word "emissary" or "envoy."
"Let's just call it a visit to the region by a senior US official and is still a matter under consideration. It remains a possibility. However, at this point, there are no final decisions", Boucher said.
Powell had said last week that Washington would take a "hard look" on the question of despatching a special envoy to the region, which was opposed by India. Bureau Report