New Delhi, Mar 15: US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives in New Delhi tonight on a two-day visit for talks with Indian leaders on carrying forward their strategic partnership as also covering recent initiatives to improve Indo-Pak relations, issues related to non-proliferation and the ongoing fight against terrorism.
"It is a full agenda of discussions with India, a full agenda of discussions with Pakistan, starting with bilateral relations and going on to both regional and more local concerns," US officials said ahead of the visit.
Powell will start his engagements on Tuesday with a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and then have wide-ranging discussions with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, besides touching on regional and international issues of importance.
He will have meetings with his friend and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra before calling on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the evening.
Officials said the two sides would discuss important matters and build on the cooperation established in recent years.



Powell will leave for Pakistan where he will meet President Pervez Musharraf and other leaders and also travel to Afghanistan before returning to Washington.


Bureau Report