Islamabad: As tension between India and Pakistan mounted over the issue of cross- border infiltration, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca plan to visit both the countries next month on a "peace mission", according to Pakistan officials.

Armitage and Rocca would be visiting Islamabad for consultations with the government, local daily 'Dawn' quoted Pakistan Foreign Office officials as saying.

During the US officials' visit, the two sides will discuss "bilateral and regional issues" with particular focus on the Pakistan-India stand-off, Iraq and Afghanistan, a senior Pakistan government official said while referring to Armitage's visit.

The two officials will also be visiting India in what is seen as a "peace mission" to the region, they said. However, they have not indicated firm dates. The US Embassy in Islamabad too declined to indicate dates.

"Whenever Pakistan-India tension level rises, Armitage gets deeply involved," remarked one Pakistani official, pointing out that the Deputy Secretary of State had visited the two South Asian capitals twice last year, when they were on the brink of nuclear war.

The crisis was finally averted after Armitage held talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

PTI