Mashallah. What a good decision by Nawaz Sharif, he is finally realising that the great USA is critical to the success of Pakistan.
In major U-turn, Nawaz to visit US Embassy
In major U-turn, Nawaz to visit US Embassy
PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has agreed to visit the US Embassy in Islamabad to meet President Obama’s Special Representative Richard Holbrooke during his forthcoming visit to Pakistan, according to reliable sources. According to some political analysts this is a major U-turn of the PML-N, as in the past while in opposition it has criticised PPP leaders and especially Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari for going to the American ambassador’s residence to meet the US envoy or other visiting dignitaries. When PML-N’s close sources contacted in this regard, they termed talks about U-turn as wrong, saying that if they had to take a U-turn, then the PML-N leaders could take advantage through a deal during their years of exile like other politicians. “The fact is that the US officials have visited Raiwind many times for meeting Nawaz Sharif and meetings are a mutual phenomenon,” they said, adding therefore Nawaz Sharif would visit US embassy for meeting Holbrooke. “We never struck secret deals, in closed doors, and our history is an open book,” they claimed.
Meanwhile, US officials say they will stay in touch with Nawaz Sharif and other opposition leaders in Pakistan and their meetings with him are nothing unusual. According to sources, what is unusual about the forthcoming Holbrooke visit is that Nawaz Sharif will be going to the US Embassy rather than insisting on asking the American visitors to come to Raiwind to meet him. When a senior PPP leader was contacted for comments in this regard he said:** “Nawaz Sharif is trying to show flexibility to gain the Americans’ confidence, as while it is easy for any Pakistani politician to try and mobilise support among the people by acting as anti-American, in the end they always have to work with the United States**. The same is happening with Nawaz Sharif who was very critical of the US before the February 2008 election and always presented himself as the man who would not bend to the Americans.” Begum Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif even spoke of naming Dr A Q Khan as the PML-N’s presidential candidate in the weeks before the election, knowing fully well that this would be considered a major act of defiance by the Americans. American officials say they are working closely with the democratically elected Pakistani government led by President Asif Ali Zardari in wide-ranging areas of common interest and that American officials maintain contacts with the opposition parties in Pakistan just as they do in other countries.
The State Department also made it clear after recent reports about evolving US-PML-N relations that Washington would continue to work with the current democratic government until Pakistan has a new government in due course of political process and as a result of elections in the mandated timeframe, four years from now. “There is a government in place. We are working with the government. There are opposition parties, we have regular contacts with them not only in Pakistan but also in all countries. “We are in a good diplomatic relationship with Pakistan, we will continue to work with the government on the problems that it faces; not only those of terrorism but also on institution building and on economics,” State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid had stated in response to a question if Washington is looking more towards PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. The US officials, he added at the daily briefing, will have discussions with opposition parties and their members in order to discuss with the entire political leadership how they see that Pakistan moves forward. In answer to another question, the spokesman said he would not analyze recent political developments but emphasized that the US would continue to work closely with the current democratically elected government. Mr Holbrooke will meet President Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, COAS General Kayani at Army House and Prime Minister Gilani at PM House but the PML-N Quaid will visit him at the US ambassador’s residence.