ISLAMABAD: Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to Pakistani prime minister returned home yesterday at the conclusion of a long visit to the United States. The visit was part of the preparations for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to the United States during which he will have extensive talks with US President Barrack Obama.
The visit assumes special significance in the backdrop of his meetings with the Russian, Chinese, Afghan and Indian leaders early this month in Ufa where he also attended the summit meeting of SCO, a robust regional organisation that has now enlisted Pakistan and India as its members.
Sources said yesterday that Washington is taking keen interest in efforts to normalise ties between Pakistan and India. It has been active behind the scene and has undertaken several diplomatic steps for the purpose.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has visited the United States three times since June 2013.
The first visit took place the same year when he went to the United Nations and addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The second visit took place in the following month on the invitation of US President Obama.
He visited the US again last year to address the UN General Assembly. On both these occasions Nawaz Sharif forcefully raised the Kashmir issue. It is expected that Sharif will stay in New York for eight days while his stay in Washington will be confined to two days. He will also meet members of the Pakistani community living in the US during his visit. Internews
