ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will hold talks with United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague during his June 27-30 visit to London, sources told The Express Tribune.
A Foreign Office official said that it was expected that the talks would be in particular reference to Afghanistan and the Nato ground lines of communication (GLOC) – that is, the supply routes through Pakistan. The falling out between Islamabad and Washington on this matter could be the focus of the meetings.
Britain has been reported to be playing a major role in mediating between the two, and has also supported Pakistan on a number of its demands.
President Zardari will reach London on June 27 on a private visit to attend the graduation ceremony of his daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari at the University of Edinburgh on June 28. He was scheduled to reach London from St Petersburg after attending the June 20-22 International Economic Forum, but political turmoil sparked by the disqualification of the prime minister by the Supreme Court forced the president to cancel his Russia visit.
Presidential spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar, when contacted, told The Express Tribune that there was a possibility of President Zardari holding official meetings with the British leaders during his stay in London – but said that details of any such meeting would be known later, just before the president arrived in the UK. He avoided going into further details of the meetings and said the engagements, other than the president’s private business, was still being discussed with Pakistani High Commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hassan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Uza Syed: UK gets physical goods and commodities from Pakistan in exchange for printed paper (aka promissory note with counter party risk).
Decide yourself who is taker who is giver. Whose economy is producing and whose economy is tanking with over-leveraged and non-serviceable debt.
How long before he realizes he cant keep running away to the UK???
The last foreign trip of the ex-PM was an official visit to UK and meeting Cameron. Now the President is going. Is Cameron an omen for us? Good or Bad depending which side one leans!!!!!!!
He is going there to get okay from Cameron that he will be returning to the UK within a short period to take residency permanently. He owns the most expensive real estate in London, worth over GBP 140 million. Why not??? Once the British came to India to get rich. Now the natives go to London after enriching themselves at the expense of the poor.
he should take bhoja air once & for all (please god please)
Zardari- Cameron Meet Agenda: Cup of Tea ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cost to Pakistan: Half a Million USD.
@Moise: "More than half century passed on but still we take dictation from UK."------- and bread and butter, too. Don't forget this fact----Chum, the folks who depend on others for their basic needs have to take dictations as well, so is and has always been the relationship between the givers and the takers.
Boss in UK to toss the coin and see if it is hitting the head or clipping the tail!
Mr Zardari will be discussing with Mr Cameron as to who should be the next PM of Pakistan +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
@Aamina: "Gee, I don't even need to go to a roach motel " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Well...you know making announcements cost nothing.... no money has ever been received by the dargah.
After the fiasco of Sarjeet Singh, who will believe anything coming out of Pakistan.
As usual, our dear president on summer vacation in Europe..
will Mr Zirdari be discussing how to get rid of Loadshedding other then attending Bakhtawar's convocation on public expense ? and please DO NOT make ANY donation to the University from Public Funds like you did graciously at Dargah in India, have a safe trip your highness
Holding a few unsolicited and unnecessary official meetings would help pass off the private visit of the president as an official visit. He will not have to spend a single penny from his own pocket for the trip.
More than half century passed on but still we take dictation from UK.