Petraeus Visits Shaky Anti-Terror Ally Pakistan

Pakistani tribesmen examine the wreckage of a car was hit by a suspected U.S. missile in Mir Ali...

Pakistani tribesmen examine the wreckage of a car was hit by a suspected U.S. missile in Mir Ali village near Miran Shah, the main town of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region along Afghanistan border, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Suspected U.S. missiles slammed into two villages close to the Afghan border, killing at least 27 people including an Arab al-Qaida operative and other foreign militants, intelligence officials said. (AP Photo/Hasbunallah Khan)

(AP)

Pakistan and the U.S. had a chance to sort through tensions in their anti-terror alliance Monday as David Petraeus, the general newly tasked with responsibility for America's two wars, visited the Muslim nation.

Petraeus' visit is part of his first international trip since taking over U.S. Central Command on Friday. It is a sign of how crucial the U.S. considers Pakistan's support in the fight against Islamist extremists, especially those in neighboring Afghanistan. The general was accompanied by Richard Boucher, an assistant U.S. secretary of state.

The trip comes amid Pakistan's frustration over a surge in suspected U.S. missile strikes on alleged militant targets on its soil.

The U.S. wants Pakistan to do more to crack down on insurgents who use pockets of its northwest region as sanctuaries from which to plan attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, where violence is running at its highest levels since 2001.

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Pakistan has launched military operations against insurgent strongholds in its northwest, but the missile strikes in that region have signaled American impatience with Pakistani efforts.

Washington is suspected in at least 17 missile strikes in Pakistan since August. Pakistan condemns the attacks as violations of its sovereignty, but the strikes have continued.

In September, a U.S. ground assault in a tribal region in Pakistan's northwest spurred outrage in Pakistan and prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity. There have been no reports of additional such ground assaults since.

Another topic that could come up during Petraeus' visit is negotiations with the Taliban. Pakistani and Afghan leaders have vowed to seek talks with elements of the militant movement.

Petraeus, previously the top U.S. commander in Baghdad, has indicated support for efforts to reach out to members of the Taliban considered moderate enough to seek an accommodation with the Afghan government.

Acting U.S. Embassy spokesman Wes Robertson declined to provide specifics on the agenda or what would be discussed during this visit, but said Boucher and Petraeus would meet with a range of Pakistani government and military officials.