Tony Blair is to visit Pakistan on Friday as part of a renewed effort to consolidate support for America's war on terrorism.

Officials in Islamabad have confirmed that Blair will arrive in the country on Friday - after flying to Russia on Thursday for talks with president Putin.

He is expected to express "understanding" of Russia's military operation in Chechnya, which has been condemned for human rights abuses.

Downing Street refused to comment on Blair's schedule. The prime minister's office said that the reports detailing Blair's visit had been unhelpful and questioned some of the facts as they had been reported. The secrecy surrounding the visit is being seen as fresh evidence of increased security surrounding the prime minister.

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, has pledged his government's complete support for the campaign against Osama Bin Laden despite resistance by pro-Taliban Islamic groups in Pakistan.

Is expected that Blair will be in the country for just four hours - before heading back to the UK.

The diplomacy comes after reports that Saudi Arabia, Oman and Uzbekistan expressed renewed doubts over the use of their territories for launching military strikes against Afghanistan.

Blair's diplomatic push coincides with a visit to the region by US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He is due to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday, before heading to Oman and Egypt, and then flying to Uzbekistan on Friday.