Zardari, Musharraf to visit US with diverse agendas

NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari and former president Pervez Musharraf are expected to visit the US during the current month, sources told The News on Saturday.

With the apparent different dates of visits and divergent agendas of meetings, dialogues on bilateral issues, dinners and lectures, the real mission of both the Pakistani leaders will be to re-visit their personal relationship with the US leadership and enhance their personal image with an emphasis that each one of the two are the best suited for the advancement of the US interests in the South Asian region, said a commentator.

The former president is likely to arrive on or about January 12 to deliver some lectures at different institutions, meet the Pakistani community and attend dinners hosted by some members of the Human Development Foundation, headed by the former chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Dr Nasim Ashraf.

So far, there is no word about the duration of his US trip.

Musharraf is also likely to meet some US legislators, officials of the US administration, as he is perceived to be a reliable ally of the US during the past eight years. Details are yet to be worked out.

The main figure to steer his trip is his friend, Dr Nasim Ashraf.

President Asif Ali Zardari will also be among the first five heads of states, who will visit the White House after Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th US president on January 20.

“It is being worked out. Some members of the Pakistani delegation and presidential staff of Zardari have been issued visas by the US embassy in Islamabad. He is likely to visit Washington in the third week of January or early February. President Zardari could be among the first five heads of states, who will meet President Obama, after his inauguration,� sources told The News, requesting anonymity.

“His visit will be focused on Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism in the newly-defined parameters of the Obama administration,� the source added.

Perceived and known as cool, calculated and connected, President-elect Obama is expected to convey a categorical message to ‘novice to diplomacy’ President Zardari regarding Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism in the South Asian region.

Obviously, President Obama’s pro-India stance will be a key component of his foreign policy and approach to deal with issues in the region, when the Obama-Zardari meeting takes place, within days after Barack Obama becomes a functional president in the renovated White House.

As predicted by many political strategists, terrorism and Pakistan will be among the top agenda items on the list of President Obama, when he begins his term as the US president. Presidential advisers on South Asia and terrorism are already working on various options to deal with the situation in South Asia.

The reasons for such an early visit of President Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Washington is to send a signal that Obama is serious to address the menace of terrorism and the new US administration wants to see its new approach to combat terrorism being implemented.

Further details of President Zardari’s visit to US are being worked out.

However, it is also not clear if Musharraf and Zardari will be present in the US at the same time.

By Azim M Mian