Holbrooke to visit Pakistan, Afghanistan next week

U.S. Special Representative Richard Holbrooke will visit Pakistan and Afghanistan next week to discuss cooperation in various fileds with leaders in the two countries.The Obama Administrations envoy for the two South Asian countries - battling militancy in their border regions - is expected to discuss security and economic cooperation as the United States pursues its revamped Afghan policy.
The U.S. strategy, announced by President Barack Obama in early December, will see deployment of additional 30,000 American troops in Afghanistan as well as increased civilian efforts before beginning a process of handover of security responsibilities to local Afghan forces by mid-2011.
On his way to the South Asian region, Holbrooke will attend a meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Senior Pakistani and Afghan diplomats will also attend the moot, according to a Foreign Policy magazine report.
Holbrooke will visit France on his way back from Asia, where he will discuss support for January 28 international conference on Afghanistan to be held in London.
The U.S.-led international forces plan to combat al-Qaeda threat and Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, particularly in the southern and eastern provinces with a mix of military and development efforts.
Pakistan is concerned about any influx of Afghan-based militants and refugees into its tribal territoriees from across the porous Durrand Line as a result of new international military actions.
Islamabad is also asking major economic powers to step up thier support for its development plans and reconstruction of conflict-hit areas, where Pakistan successfully countered the Taliban in two major operations. According to Pakistani finance minister, the ongoing fight against militants is costing Islamabad as much as $ 8.5 billion annually.
The U.S. is a leading economic partner of Pakistan and wants other rich nations to enhance their economic assistance for the key regional country.