Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani reached Islamabad early on Saturday after he was called for consultation on mounting tensions with the US over its covert operation in Abbottabad. Sources told Pakistan Today that Haqqani held quiet meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani as soon as he got to Islamabad. During his weeklong stay here, the source said, Haqqani would also meet the civil and military bureaucracy and brief them on the feelings and environment in Washington. He would also convey the proposals being developed by various US think-tanks and the efforts of Indian and Jewish lobbyists to influence US policy-makers on Pakistan.
The source said that Senator John Kerry would most likely arrive here on Sunday to calm down Pakistan’s civilian and military bureaucracy, which is agitated by the US operation. “The presence of Mr Haqqani would also add to John Kerry’s influence on the Pakistani leadership, as the ambassador is considered to be a pivotal player in covert cooperation of the US in Musharraf-Benazir Bhutto deal, which helped the PPP return to power,” added the source.
The source said Ambassador Haqqani’s presence reflected the fact that Islamabad was interested in reconciliation efforts with the US, even if ties between the military and intelligence officials of both countries were still strained. Earlier, President Zardari told Prime Minister Gilani in a meeting that copies of the parliament’s resolution would be sent to the US, UN, OIC and friendly countries so that Pakistan’s point was made obvious to the world, Online news agency adds.
Haqqani arrives to assist in talks with Kerry
