41
Outgoing American president Barak Obama once 'expressed the desire' to visit Pakistan, but could not act upon the wish "for a variety of reasons, some of them relating to the complicated relationship between our two countries at certain times over the last eight years," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said at a news briefing.
The subject sprang up at the news briefing in light of President-elect Donald Trump's telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during which he said he would like to visit Pakistan.
Earnest added that "ultimately, when President Trump begins planning his overseas travel, he'll have a range of places to consider, and Pakistan would certainly be one of them".
He further said that a visit from the American president sends a powerful message to the people of a country, "whether it's some of our closest allies, or that's also true if it's a country like Pakistan, with whom our relationship is somewhat more complicated."
Sharif had called Trump on Nov 9 to congratulate him on his recent victory.
The US president-elect also said it will be an honour for him to do so and he will personally do what is needed.
During the telephone conversation, Trump also praised Nawaz and expressed his desire to meet the prime minister soon.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (41) Closed
Dec 03, 2016 02:55pm
Visiting Pakistan could have been your most important achievement in your presidency but you failed to capitalize it, Trump will not do such a mistake, first nation he will travel and visit will be Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 03:01pm
We need to understand that BO or any other president has his limits and cannot go against the behind-the-scene deal makers in the lower and upper houses of parliament. I know it's a harsh analogy but the president is like a puppet (especially in the last 12 - 18 months of his tenure. Don't forget what happened to JFK and no one has yet discovered the dark hand behind his assassination. In our history also, we have rulers / leaders who got poisoned / assassinated in broad day light by the insiders!
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 03:37pm
After 4 years Trump will also issue similar statement.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 03:42pm
I am sure President Obama will visit Pakistan once he retires.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 03:52pm
As an ex-President, he can.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 04:09pm
Hence maybe obama should have visted. Us policy in the obama administration has been reactive instead of being proactive. I hold high hopes from trump who brings with him a new thinking and maybe some balance in us power in southasia!
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 04:31pm
Fantastic, terrific, wonderful! He sounds like a very intelligent guy!
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 04:40pm
Who so ever is the US president they would only visit if it suits their own interests'!
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 05:39pm
We still love u Obama.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 05:41pm
@Zak why Pakistan. We have our hands full with CPEC and Russian wish to join CPEC. Maybe later.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 05:48pm
@Zak Why Pakistan ? Are you living in current era ? CPEC is the buzzword everywhere and those nations who are not connected to it will fall behind in all areas and US wants to stay relevant and hence visit to Pakistan is in its interest.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 06:37pm
This is most unfortunate for Mr. Obama as he visited & stayed in Pakistan in his young years...
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 07:05pm
@Zak
You can be rest assured that he will visit Pakistan but all know his first visit will be to India.Remember indian support he got in election.He has already named Indian origin woman in one of the most important post ambassador to UN.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 07:33pm
@Zak let's see
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 08:00pm
@Zak Yes. Infact Trump will try to get Pakistan's help to get place in CPEC!!
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 08:34pm
May be it was not important to visit Pakistan!
However, we would have welcomed him if he had.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 08:41pm
@Zak yes CPEC is everyones envy. Trump wants to build CPEC Trump tower every 50 kms on the route. And every worthwhile country wants to join CPEC including UK, Russia, Somalia, Zimbabwe and China
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 11:05pm
@Mustafa Norway and Sweden top the list. Then comes Russia, etc.
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 11:30pm
Trump and US can join CPEC...
Recommend
0
Dec 03, 2016 11:36pm
The main problem is it is an unequal relationship. Notwithstanding our special relationship with China, it is the US that continues to be our biggest aid-givers. As long as our rulers keep depending on the US for the financial aid, we will continue to have a fraught relationship. It is time our rulers (both civil and military) stopped seeking the aid from the US and look elsewhere. Only then can we become completely independent of America, and do what is in our best interest.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 01:15am
Obama is always welcome back any time. On a personal basis, he had called pakistan his second home after he visited it in 1970's, as a student.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 05:37am
After completion of the CPEC and China and Russia joining the party, USA won't be much relevant to Pakistan hopefully. Thanks for leaving us alone.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 07:37am
@Joe For you information those with Indian background don't even a bit of feelings being Indian, She is American and Period!!! there is no such a thing India Pakistan once you live in USA . Thats why it makes this nation great.
Pakistani Americans are proud of her too.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 10:50am
We never waited for Mr.Obama to come to our beloved country Pakistan, and we disagree with his statement and it was just because to please India Mr.Obama.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 11:41am
Everyone has right to take care of himself. Why shouldn't he?
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 12:52pm
@Zak Chances of US president travelling to are fairly less 10%. A lot of things Nawaz Sharif stated about his telephonic call cannot be verified but instead USA is annoyed by it . I wouldn't be surprised after oath Trump may deny such conversation or may even decline visit.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 01:47pm
Obama visited to Karachi in Past when he was student, according to DAWN news. But he was student at that time not president
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 01:47pm
@Mustafa : There are 193 countries in UN and we have to find out how many countries out of this willing to involve in CPEC. We should admit them strictly on merit...
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 02:37pm
If there is a will...there is a way!
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 02:38pm
@Rehman We dont need any foreign aid.
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 02:39pm
His loss really but he is always welcome
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 05:48pm
@Ahmed bin Babar he was not a US president at that time
Recommend
0
Dec 04, 2016 11:25pm
@javed sarfraz Then he won't have any power. No ageerment will be signed.
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 02:34am
Donald Trump focus is winning or making a win .win deal.
Though he throws rhetoric from time to time, he is not into love & hate relationship with anyone or any country, he is basically a bully, he can jump from one side to the other based on the deal. His mind set is business & making a deal. He needs somebody smart from Pakistan foreign office to deal with him, who can understand him.
As an example, He wanted to punish Hillary during the campaign for the emails and threatened her time an again and now backed off because it is no longer important.
He authored Art of Deal and takes pride how he used the art of deal to achieve his successes in real estate.
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 04:55am
Obama purposely avoided Pakistan, he visired Indonesia & Malayasia twice & kenya once thou. Hilary visited once in 2011 & this is what she said then.
"It's like that old story -- you can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours. Eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard, Clinton said, during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, according to a report in The Washington Post."
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 05:49am
Its as complicated as you want it to be...
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 09:43am
@kanwarch: Excellent!
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 12:40pm
Barak Obama it was your policy failure more than the situation. When you got elected peoples in Pakistan felt that you will take few extra ordinary steps to solve the long standing issues of this region, no regrets you did not visit Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Dec 05, 2016 02:46pm
Either Trump visit Pakistan or not to be seen in future . But Pakistan should not bow towards their one sided policy . Pakistan should talk with them completely protecting their own Country's Interest .
Syed Naseem Ahmed
Recommend
0
Dec 06, 2016 08:30am
@Zak There is no need to be sarcastic. Let Trump visit the biggest democracy first and especially occupied Kashmir
Recommend
0
Dec 06, 2016 08:33am
@Maher HASAN NY,USA So what is the point
Recommend
0
