Cheney makes unannounced visit to Pakistan

Islamabad, Feb 26: US Vice President Dick Cheney today made an unannounced visit to Pakistan to press for President Pervez Musharraf's help in combating a new Taliban offensive in Afghanistan and a resurgent al Qaeda.

Mr Cheney was meeting with President Musharraf at the presidential palace in Islamabad, an official told reporters traveling with the vice president.

The United States is bolstering its troop presence in Afghanistan by 3,200 to help repel fierce spring fighting predicted by the United States and NATO after the bloodiest year since the Taliban was ousted by U.S.--led forces in 2001.

The New York Times today reported that President George W Bush had decided to send an unusually tough message to President Musharraf, warning him that the newly Democratic Congress could cut aid to his country unless his forces became far more aggressive in hunting down operatives with Al Qaeda.

Reuters>