The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Islamabad

Pakistanis expressed growing outrage Thursday over the timing of a visit by two senior U.S. envoys who landed even before foes of U.S.-backed President Pervez Musharraf could name a new Cabinet, decrying the visit as American "meddling."

Meanwhile, an American newspaper reported that a recent increase in U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan's tribal areas was because of U.S. worries that the new government would scale back military operations in the area.

Such strikes have killed at least 25 people this month, sparking anger over civilian casualties in the region, where Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida operatives could be hiding.

Washington has been scrambling to build bridges with Pakistan's new leaders, who routed Musharraf loyalists in parliamentary elections last month partly because of popular anger over the president's alliance with the U.S. in the war on terror. The new government has pledged to slash Musharraf's powers and review his American-backed counterterrorism policies. Already, partners in the new government have said they would negotiate with some militant groups - an approach that has drawn criticism from Washington, which has provided about $10 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2001.

The U.S. envoys, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, began meetings in Islamabad just as newly elected Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was taking his oath of office Tuesday.