ISLAMABAD, March 14: President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday met US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher at a dinner hosted by him in honour of outgoing US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.

The visiting secretary of state, who is scheduled to have a formal meeting with the president on Thursday, had an informal chat with him during the dinner.

The two are believed to have discussed joint efforts to contain Taliban in Afghanistan.

Mr Boucher had arrived here from Kabul.

He is also scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and other officials on Thursday.

Our correspondent in Washington adds: The US State Department said Mr Boucher’s visit was not linked to the current situation in Pakistan.