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Hillary Clinton visits Pakistan on unannounced visit Hillary Clinton pledges US 'commitment' to Pakistan
(about 3 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Pakistan on a previously unannounced visit aimed at soothing tensions between the two countries. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed Washington's "strong commitment" to relations with Pakistan.
She was speaking as she arrived in Islamabad on a previously unannounced visit aimed at soothing tensions between the two countries.
It is the first such high-level visit to Pakistan since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden on 2 May.It is the first such high-level visit to Pakistan since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden on 2 May.
The American special forces raid on Bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad prompted protests from Islamabad.The American special forces raid on Bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad prompted protests from Islamabad.
It comes a day after the US announced it was withdrawing some of its troops from Pakistan, at Islamabad's request. Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the US announced it was withdrawing some of its troops from Pakistan, at Islamabad's request.
The Pentagon said it had received a request from the Pakistani government to reduce its presence in the country. In what correspondents say was perhaps an attempt to smooth ruffled Pakistani feathers over the killing, Mrs Clinton acknowledged the ''sacrifices made every single day by the men and women Pakistan's military and its citizens".
Relations between US and Pakistan are always complex and fragile but they are particularly volatile at the moment. US officials say that Mr Clinton's visit had been planned for about two weeks, but Washington was waiting for the right time "for this critical conversation".
We landed amidst very tight security, with choppers flying overhead. The roads were cleared of all traffic and Pakistani paramilitary officers lined the streets. The convoy of armoured cars drove at breakneck speed.We landed amidst very tight security, with choppers flying overhead. The roads were cleared of all traffic and Pakistani paramilitary officers lined the streets. The convoy of armoured cars drove at breakneck speed.
This is Mrs Clinton's third visit to Pakistan and seems the most tense of all on a security level. But the meetings will also be tense. She'll be asking the Pakistanis for the same things she did the first two times, but with more urgency.This is Mrs Clinton's third visit to Pakistan and seems the most tense of all on a security level. But the meetings will also be tense. She'll be asking the Pakistanis for the same things she did the first two times, but with more urgency.
The US wants further co-operation on counter-terrorism and on reconciliation in Afghanistan. But Mrs Clinton has also been pressing the Pakistanis to do more and better on tax collection from Pakistan's elite to fill the coffers of the state.The US wants further co-operation on counter-terrorism and on reconciliation in Afghanistan. But Mrs Clinton has also been pressing the Pakistanis to do more and better on tax collection from Pakistan's elite to fill the coffers of the state.
The US currently gives Pakistan $3bn in aid every year. The US currently gives Pakistan $3bn in aid every year and there have been growing calls in US congress to cut this amount.
In Washington, suspicion is rife that some in Pakistan knew of Osama Bin Laden's hiding place. The ground was prepared by Senator John Kerry and the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman. The decision to visit was taken on Wednesday but kept under wraps for security reasons.
During her visit, Mrs Clinton is to meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Ahmad Shuja Pasha, chief of Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency ISI. The BBC's Kim Ghattas - who is travelling with Mrs Clinton - says that she arrived in Pakistan under intense security, her 20-car armoured motorcade racing through the city to the presidential palace and helicopters flying overhead.
Officials say that she has come to Pakistan to gauge Islamabad's commitment to fighting Islamic extremism.
They say that it would not have been taken place if there was not a sense that "we could build on some of the signs that we have been receiving".
Stone-faced
Relations between US and Pakistan are always complex and fragile but they are particularly volatile at the moment.
Our correspondent says that Mrs Clinton has met all of Pakistan's top officials several times before and is usually adept at smiley conversation for the cameras.
But this time she sat fairly stone-faced at the start of her meeting with Pakistan's president, prime minister, foreign secretary and army chief.
The secretary of state is accompanied by chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.The secretary of state is accompanied by chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
They are expected to demand more co-operation from Pakistan in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.They are expected to demand more co-operation from Pakistan in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
Some in Washington believe that Pakistani intelligence works closely with violent extremist groups. Some in Washington believe that Pakistani intelligence works closely with violent extremist groups. Suspicion is rife that some in Pakistan knew of Osama Bin Laden's hiding place all along.
Meanwhile, US media reports say that Pakistan will allow the CIA to examine Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad.Meanwhile, US media reports say that Pakistan will allow the CIA to examine Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad.
A forensics team is expected to arrive within days along with sophisticated equipment to find material that may be embedded behind walls, inside safes or buried underground.A forensics team is expected to arrive within days along with sophisticated equipment to find material that may be embedded behind walls, inside safes or buried underground.
An incredible amount of intelligence was recovered during the raid, but officials said this could be an opportunity to find out more about al-Qaeda.
It could also help improve ties with Pakistan, they said.