Cheney pressed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to step up efforts to combat the resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida. “He asked President Musharraf that Pakistan should do more,” a Pakistani official said after the meeting between Cheney and Musharraf at the presidential palace.

Cheney arrived in the Pakistan capital from Oman, and after a one-on-one lunch with Musharraf he flew to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. He was due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai later in the day.

“Cheney expressed U.S. apprehensions of regrouping of al-Qaida in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat,” the Pakistani president’s office said in a statement.

“He expressed serious U.S. concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and al-Qaida spring offensive against allied forces in Afghanistan,” it said.

Cheney’s visit to Islamabad coincided with one by Margaret Beckett, Britain’s foreign secretary. Beckett also held talks with Musharraf on Monday morning.

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

The harsh Afghan winters usually lead to a temporary lull in fighting but the violence is expected to increase again soon with the arrival of warm weather.

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