WASHINGTON: As opposed to previous reports of US senator John Kerry's visit to Pakistan on US President Obama's directive, the senator's spokesperson Jodi Seth has claimed that no such visit has been scheduled, nor has the US president issued any such request.
In response to the story published in The Express Tribune “NATO airstrike: Kerry to visit Pakistan with ‘formal apology’”, Seth issued a statement saying that the US senator was not planning to travel to Pakistan.
Additionally, White House National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden told The Express Tribune, “I refer you to Senator Kerry’s office for information about his travel plans."
"Despite press reports, he has not been asked by President Obama to travel to Pakistan or deliver any particular message from the administration.”
Earlier, it was reported that US President Barack Obama was sending his key trouble-shooter to Pakistan later this month amidst efforts to reset ties in light of the new foreign policy guidelines recently approved by parliament.
Former presidential hopeful and chairman of the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee Senator John Kerry were expected to travel to Islamabad on April 29 to meet the country’s top civil and military leadership, an official had told The Express Tribune.
One official said that the influential US senator would likely offer a formal public apology on behalf of the Obama Administration over the Nato airstrikes on a Pakistani check post in November last year.
The formal public apology over the attacks that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers is one of the key preconditions set by parliament for the normalisation of ties including resumption of vital land routes for the Nato forces stationed in Afghanistan.
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Good riddance Mr. Kerry.
Yes... stay out...... we don't need u.............................
Ofcourse he is not going to come!!!! Time pakistan understand that their integrity and standing in world has become very questionable over past year ! No American Administration over next decade is likely to trust pakistan in future very easily,due to pakistan's own doing.
Apology? It is unclear that how long the delay would last.
It would appear that the last USA Senator who would say anything positive about Pakistan has thrown in the towel --- can you blame him? This guy went out of his way to defend Pakistan time and time again and had his name vilified as interfering with your vaunted "sovereignty".
and we are not planning to receive you so wise move senator!
TO MR KERRY WE R/SICK AND TIED OF U/R ORDER WHAT TO DO,U/R THE ONE WHO FAVER OF DRON ATTACK IN PAKISTAN KILLING CIVILEN ,I THINK U/SHOULD BE CALL ON WORLD COURT FOR W A R - C R I M E.WE DO NOT U/TO COME TO PAKISTAN.
Apology is probably going to be sent by snail-mail!