U.S. envoy on tough Pakistan mission

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- John Negroponte's trip to Pakistan may be President Pervez Musharraf's last chance to keep his U.S. support before the United States looks to another leader.

The U.S. deputy secretary of state traveled to Pakistan to help resolve the worsening political crisis brought on by Musharraf's emergency decree but Britain's Independent reports the visit comes at a time of indications U.S. President George Bush's administration may be ready to switch its support to an alternative leader.

Negroponte will meet both Musharraf and Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani, who may take over from Musharraf if and when the latter gives up his military chief title to become a civilian president, the report said.

A western diplomat in Islamabad told the newspaper: "You can expect (Negroponte) will be saying the same things that the U.S. has been saying in public -- end the emergency, take off the uniform, hold the elections, free the media and release the prisoners. I do not think he will be saying it is time to go but he will be saying it is time to change."

The Independent reported it is not clear if the Bush administration has decided to give up on Musharraf but reports indicate a growing number of U.S. officials say they believe it is time to start talking to others such as Kiyani.