New Delhi: Coming ahead of Indo-Pak talks, US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca today (Feb 13, 2004) met Foreign Secretary Shashank, Deputy to National Security Adviser Satish Chandra, and senior officials as also with American Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell.

"The visit (of Rocca) was planned for some time. This has nothing to do with the composite dialogue scheduled between India and Pakistan beginning February 16," an American Embassy spokesman said.

It was clarified that Nancy Powell was here on a stopover on her way for a vacation. US Ambassador-designate to India Robert Mulford was present during the consultations.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman said "as part of regular exchanges on issues of bilateral interest", Rocca met joint secretaries in the MEA dealing with the US and South Asia.

He said in the context of the next steps on strategic partnership announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and US President George W Bush last month, the two sides reiterated their commitment to speedy progress on this subject.

The India-US regional dialogue is one of the elements of the institutionalised political and strategic dialogue between the two countries to share perspectives and harmonise approaches on issues of mutual concern in India's extended neighbourhood.

The dialogue symbolises the continuing transformation in Indo-US relations.