Shaukat Aziz tries to invite himself to a white house dinner and gets smacked down

Why PM’s trip to US was called off

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: The Shaukat Aziz visit to Washington was called off because the Bush administration was unwilling to accord him more than a businesslike welcome.

Pakistani suggestions that he be hosted at a White House dinner, like the Indian prime minister, or be invited to address a joint session of Congress, were turned down politely but firmly. Neither were there any guarantees available that his media reception would remain “respectful.” It was also discreetly suggested that Shaukat Aziz was an “elected” prime minister in a technical rather than in a real sense. The Pakistani leader who is seen as the man in charge is President Pervez Musharraf.

The London bombings proved to be the final straw as far as the visit was concerned as it was felt in Islamabad that their fallout would cloud the atmosphere and the visit, instead of helping Pakistan’s image, would further tarnish it. The cancellation came at Pakistan’s request, and while it does not affect the relationship between the two countries in any adverse sense, it has certainly caused a certain amount of awkwardness and embarrassment to both sides.

No next date is on the cards but the invitation still stands. However, the Pakistani prime minister is unlikely to be in Washington any time soon.