The details of the talks were not immediately available but a military official described the visit as a routine trip.

Abizaid arrived overnight at the head of a nine-member delegation and is to meet other senior Pakistani officials before winding up the visit later in the day, the official said.

The Lebanese-American General, a Middle East expert, replaced Tommy Franks early this month as military commander of US forces in a vast region that includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pakistan is a key US ally in the war against terrorism and the armed forces of the two countries maintain a close coordination in the campaign to root out al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants in the region.

Islamabad provided key logistical and intelligence support to the US operations in neighbouring Afghanistan that led to the ouster of the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.

US forces are still using at least three airbases on Pakistani territory where up to 6,000 American troops remain stationed.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained in recent weeks over allegations that Pakistani troops had crossed into Afghan territory and an attack on the Pakistani embassy by Afghan protesters.

A tripartite meeting among Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States is currently studying the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

WAR.WIRE