WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Tuesday announced Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to South Asia next week but did not reveal his schedule for Pakistan due to security reasons.

A statement released by his office late Tuesday said Secretary Kerry would travel to Ahmedabad, India, on Jan 10 to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit to be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Secretary Kerry may travel to additional countries, but any other stops would be announced separately,” the statement said.

Mr Kerry is expected to travel to Islamabad either before or after the Ahmedabad conference but the US administration does not release schedules of such visits to Pakistan for security reasons.

The country is embroiled in a bloody war with terrorists, which has already killed tens of thousands of people, including soldiers. US officials fear that publicly announcing the schedule could increase security risks for the visiting dignitaries.

Meanwhile, reports in the US media pointed out that a dispute over a reported $500 million US aid package to Pakistan and tensions on India-Pakistan border have overshadowed the secretary’s visit to South Asia.