Katmandu, Dec 12: US Assistant Secretary of State Christina B Rocca arrives here today on a four-day visit to the South Asian region, during which she will discuss Nepal's fight against Maoist rebels, the tensions between India and Pakistan as also the rise of Pakistan's religious right.

During the visit, Rocca will meet Nepalese King Gyanendra, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and other officials, the US embassy in Kathmandu said. The visit is expected to focus on the seven-year Maoist insurgency, which has left more than 7,000 people dead.

The rebels haven't attacked US citizens, but they have killed two Nepalese security guards employed by the US embassy in separate attacks during the past year, accusing them of being spies. One was shot to death at his home and another while walking to work.

Meanwhile, a US embassy spokesman in Islamabad said that dates of Rocca's Pakistan visit and the agenda were still being sorted out.
Because of security concerns, the US embassy in Pakistan rarely publicises the details of visits by US officials to the region.

Rocca visited Pakistan last in October. Then she tried to encourage India and Pakistan to resume talks aimed at reducing tension. But so far India has refused, demanding Pakistan first end aid to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest visit by Rocca comes just days after Pakistan postponed indefinitely the SAARC summit.

Bureau Report