ISLAMABAD, June 16: After a week of feverish Pakistan-US engagement in Islamabad, it will now be Washington which will be the venue for further high-level contacts between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri is all set to leave for Washington on Sunday morning on a five-day official visit for bilateral consultations with top aides of US President George W. Bush.
His trip takes place on the heels of back-to-back visits by three key American officials — Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher and Commander US Central Command Admiral William J. Fallon.
Mr Kasuri’s official engagements will start on Monday when he will hold talks with Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. He will also meet Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.
Meetings with leading senators and members of the House of Representatives of both parties, including Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and Pakistan Congressional Caucus on the Capitol Hill, are also planned.
Besides bilateral relations, high on the agenda will be the Afghanistan question, particularly the border concern, and the situation in FATA and counter-terrorism cooperation. Developments in Pakistan, the forthcoming general elections and emerging political alliances are also likely to figure in discussions, sources said.
Mr Kasuri will have a hectic schedule with close to 40 engagements during his stay in the US. He will also travel to Chicago for a two-day visit during which he will address the Chicago Council. —Q.A.
