ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The new commander of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, was in Pakistan Monday, in a sign that concerns over Washington's key anti-terror ally top his list of priorities.

The 55-year-old Central Command (Centcom) chief, a counter-insurgency specialist widely credited for progress in the Iraq conflict, is on his first visit to the country, which is in the grip of spiralling Islamist violence.

Petraeus arrived in Islamabad late Sunday with Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, and was holding meetings with Pakistani officials and military top brass, US Embassy acting spokesman Wes Robertson told AFP.

But he said the visit was not in response to concern about the security situation in Pakistan, which has hit by a wave of deadly Taliban and Al-Qaeda suicide attacks, civil unrest and a crippled economy.

"They're having meetings with Pakistani officials and military leaders," he told AFP. "This was a regular scheduled visit. This is something that has been on the books for quite some time."

No further details were released for security reasons, he added.

The Dawn newspaper said both men were scheduled to meet Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar and powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and were likely to drop in on President Asif Ali Zardari.

The News daily added that the pair will also travel to Peshawar, the capital of the troubled North West Frontier Province, to meet local commanders before leaving for Afghanistan.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been strained in recent months by a series of suspected US missile strikes against Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents hiding in Pakistan's lawless border areas.

The country's security breakdown -- and what to do about it -- has even become an election issue in the race for the White House, which culminates Tuesday when voters go to the polls.

Last Wednesday, the Pakistan foreign ministry called in US Ambassador Anne Patterson to register its opposition to the continued strikes.

But just two days later, two separate strikes killed 32 mainly Al-Qaeda operatives, according to Pakistani security sources.

All the strikes have been blamed on US-led coalition forces or Central Intelligence Agency-operated drones based in neighbouring Afghanistan, where US troops are engaged in escalating fighting with Taliban and other militants.

Former Pakistani general and defence analyst Talat Masood said Petraeus' visit could not be underplayed.

"The visit shows the importance of Pakistan in the ongoing 'war on terror,'" he told AFP.

"It also shows that Pakistan has become the focal point of interest in the United States that is why he decided to visit Pakistan soon after his appointment."

Masood said the visit is likely to see consideration of the broad strategy towards cutting extremist attacks in Afghanistan launched from Pakistan's tribal belt.

"His appointment is a precursor of the thinking in the United States that it is not winning in Afghanistan," he added.

"General Petraeus is a professional, he knows it is a different war, he understands the dynamics and he may prevail upon the current and the next US administration to review the policy."

He added: "He is probably the most suited person to bring a new and fresh approach in Afghanistan and in the tribal belt." --AFP