WASHINGTON, Feb 12: President Pervez Musharraf arrived at Andrews Air Force base here on Tuesday morning from Boston to begin his three-day official visit to the United States.
Gen Musharraf, accompanied by his wife, was greeted by White House Chief of Protocol Donald Eisenstat, Pakistan Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and embassy staff. He was accorded a red carpet welcome by the Commander of the US Andrews Air Force base.
Musharraf’s arrival amidst reports from Pakistan that the abducted Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was alive and could be secured by the authorities within hours, uplifted the spirits of the Pakistan delegation.
Meanwhile, Teresita Schaffer, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said the September attacks on the US in the “war on terrorism” gave Musharraf a chance to set his country on a fresh course away from Islamic fundamentalism.
Now, Pakistan wants Washington to reward Musharraf by forgiving the country’s $3 billion official debt, encouraging US investment in Pakistan and opening the huge American market to Pakistani exports, specially textiles.
But US textile manufacturers have argued against further lowering of tariffs against Pakistan.
Congressman Robert Aderholt said it made no sense to worry about Pakistan economy “when so many rural American towns that depend on clothing factories are in trouble.”
Grant Aldonas, Undersecretary for International Trade at the Commerce Department, said on Monday the United States was having conversations about what it could do to help Pakistan. “We would like to put together a constructive relationship,” Aldonas said. “Anything we can do would be helpful.”
Relations between Pakistan and the United States, strong allies in the cold war period, had deteriorated over the years, specially after the country tested nuclear devices in 1998 and the seizure of power by Musharraf by overthrowing an elected government the next year.
But ever since President Musharraf joined America’s “war against terrorism” Washington’s criticism of military rule and exhortations to return to civilian rule had become muted. The US officials had been quick to note that Gen Musharraf had reiterated time and again that the elections would be held on schedule in October of this year. He had also said he expected to remain the president of the country for the next five years.
