Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto conducted a private meeting this week with Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman. The exiled former prime minister of Pakistan, the Israeli ambassador, and a few associates attended a three-hour dinner at a local hotel in Midtown. But Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Gillerman also conducted a private conversation during the evening, according to several sources familiar with the event, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
good for her, there is no reason she should not be meeting with him. of course ppl will jump up and down and say she is an agent of the hanood and yahood now :)
oh yeah I still am not a fan of her, but dont see an issue here.
Yup, I agree. Though, I am sure now people will be saying the Israeli's are sponsoring the deal between her and the govt. Toba toba!. :D
The reaction depends on the agenda of the meeting! which i believe is nothing important.. all BB wanted was to convey a message to American Jews ( influential) that she is liberal enough to hold meeting with Israeli officials.
What a leader, going an extra mile just to convinvce her "boss" that she is better candidate than Mush, who had tried the same in past.
I hope now atleast the PPP personalities wont ever talk of Musharraf being a bend-over US ally. Not to mention he’s by far the least bent-over in Pakistan’s history, while others are always showing what big potential and proven bend-overs they are
or she may be askign israeilis to give her pointers about how to deal with terrorists and their counter terrorism approaches.
again, why not.
I can accept this kind of intelligence from Mush, as he knows what to get from where, but from the Leaders of PPP and PML, man u are giving them way more credit..
yeah well maybe her and musharraf are tighter right now then we think they are.
I think that is a very accurate statement. Just a day or so ago she was practically pleading with the government to get the deal through in the coming couple of weeks, and in fact conceded that Musharraf will be re-elected in uniform next month.
Personally I think she is under great American pressure to complete the deal with Musharraf whom they still see as vital for Pakistan. I think her meeting with the Israeli ambassador maybe an indication that the real power in the whole equation is also very, very nervous about Musharraf being removed. This also explains why Musharraf is pretty relaxed about a deal with BB (and other opposition parties) because he knows it's she that is more majboor for a deal.
Whatever happens on constitution avenue in Islamabad, it's higher powers which are determining the coming power structure in Pakistan.
I hope now atleast the PPP personalities wont ever talk of Musharraf being a bend-over US ally. Not to mention he's by far the least bent-over in Pakistan's history, while others are always showing what big potential and proven bend-overs they are :D
Please the thought of BB bending over will give me nightmares. :o
On the subject of bending over. I am reminded of the story in 1999 during the funeral of King Huseein of Jordan, when Nawaz Sharif walked up 12 stories of stairs (because the escalator had broken down) to go specially meet President Clinton. The American officials broke out in cackles at seeing Nawaz practically breathless, and heading towards Clinton to shake his hand. A pathetic show of loyalty by Nawaz, but he did get plenty of exercise. :D
Please the thought of BB bending over will give me nightmares. :o
On the subject of bending over. I am reminded of the story in 1999 during the funeral of King Huseein of Jordan, when Nawaz Sharif walked up 12 stories of stairs (because the escalator had broken down) to go specially meet President Clinton. The American officials broke out in cackles at seeing Nawaz practically breathless, and heading towards Clinton to shake his hand. A pathetic show of loyalty by Nawaz, but he did get plenty of exercise. :D
I agree to that, Nawaz, BB and Musharraf have all bent over to plz Uncle Sam, hence i see no reason why Musharraf shud stay in power in name of quelling militancy. NS and BB can do it or for that matter any chief executive in Pakistan will do it.
What is wrong with continuity? Mush himself continued a lot of the projects from the democratic govts. Motorway, Ghazi Brotha, JF-17 etc etc.
And we need plans? If anything we need implementation. Our bureaucracy is probably overflowing with plans as we speak. That’s always been the case. Any govt. that gets voted in will have absolutely NO problem dusting off some vision 2099 or whatever and start implementing.
What sort of plans do u think can any candidate sell to these folks anyway?
Politics in Pakistan has a different bent than other democracies. Good or bad. I am not saying. Its different and it revolves around sloganeering. That politics or the politicians have not matured is politicians fault, no doubt but constant derailing of the process also keeps reverting us back to square one. So the military is just as much to blame for it.
but its not just pleasing US that is the point its also delivering results. I see slogans but no plans, no agendas no policies..and if they will just continue the stuff that musharraf and shaukat have already placed then that means it is workign so why change?
After her meeting with Israeli UN Ambassador in New York I predict BB will be flying to Abu Dhabi for another key meeting there. ;)
UNITED NATIONS — In a move that may endear her to Western supporters and moderates in her country — but which is also sure to be exploited by Islamist opponents — the top contender for Pakistan’s premiership, Benazir Bhutto, conducted a private meeting this week with Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman. A three-hour dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Midtown was attended by the exiled former prime minister of Pakistan, the Israeli ambassador, and a few associates. But Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Gillerman also conducted a private conversation during the evening, according to several sources familiar with the event, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ms. Bhutto initiated the meeting with Mr. Gillerman as she attempts to return to power in her homeland. Her worldwide campaign included a busy week in Manhattan, where the American-educated Ms. Bhutto also met with America’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, as well as a host of press interviewers and opinion makers. Jerusalem and Islamabad do not maintain diplomatic relations, but in recent years, as the Jewish state strengthened its ties with Pakistan’s regional rival, India, Israeli officials also attempted to approach the government of President Musharraf. Those attempts included a September 2005 public meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, between Israel’s foreign minister at the time, Sivan Shalom, and his Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Kasuri. Ms. Bhutto is seen in Israel as a likely future leader, according to an Israeli government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. But Israelis and Pakistanis are well aware of the political sensitivities involved in her meeting with an Israeli official: Ms. Bhutto’s main opponent in the upcoming election for prime minister, scheduled to take place no later than January, is likely to be another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, or one of his allies in a religious party, Jamaate-Islami.
