Pakistan's re-entry into Commonwealth is set to be top of Jack Straw's agenda today.

He will discuss the issue during his four day visit to India which was set to begin late on Thursday.

Pakistan was expelled following a military coup but has been a major player in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been tense since cross-border skirmishes last year brought the two countries to the brink of war.

Accord

New signs of accord in recent weeks have allowed Straw to lobby for Pakistan's readmission.

Enhancing relations between Britain and India is also a key priority for Straw who is set to meet his Indian counterpart Yashwant Sinha in Delhi.

"Pakistan's re-entry into Commonwealth will figure as Islamabad has now made considerable progress in meeting the demands made by Commonwealth in restoration of democracy there," he said.

Meeting

Straw will also meet India's deputy prime minister L K Advani and congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

His visit will also include a meeting with business leaders and a speech on ways of defeating terrorism.

Ahead of the visit, Straw highlighted the economic links between the two countries.

Vital partner

"India is a vital partner for the UK: it is central to six of the UK’s eight strategic foreign policy objectives," he said.

"Britain and India are committed to taking our relationship to a new strategic level which reflects the great mutual importance of our countries and the global importance of India in the 21st Century.

"My talks in Delhi will be about how both sides can further build on this new strategic relationship. Increasingly, our business ties are a true two-way partnership, to the benefit of both our countries."

Kazakhstan

Before arriving in India, the foreign secretary will stop off in Kazakhstan where he will meet with the country's leader President Nazarbayev and open the new Foreign Office's new mission in the capital Astana.