Fatemi may head to Washington as ambassador

[Devil Soul]

ISLAMABAD - As the duel between Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatemi gets serious over the use of authority, Fatemi would mostly likely be asked to fly to Washington to serve as the Pakistani envoy to the US.

Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry told Pakistan Today that there was no ongoing duel between the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, as the former enjoyed powers equal to the federal minister and stood supreme when compared to the latter, who was equal to the minister for state.

The issue triggered in connection with the recent Pakistani protest over drone strikes inside Pakistan, wherein a press release from the Foreign Office mentioned Fatemi as a special adviser to the prime minister and minister for state on foreign affairs.

However, the minister of state designation was omitted when the media release was re-issued. Media reports also claimed that over the protest on drone strikes, both Aziz and Fatemi enjoyed differences in connection with the intensity with which the protest be recorded against the strikes.

Fatemi wants hardcore reaction and that may create problems if Nawaz plans to get closer to the US administration. Another source in the Foreign Office told Pakistan Today that it appeared difficult for both Fatemi and Aziz to work in collaboration with each other, as both held difference of opinion on various issues, and could not stay parallel to one another.

The source said being powerful and close aide of Nawaz, Aziz was likely to win the battle for authority and Fatemi may be asked to fly to the US soon to serve as the ambassador. Aizaz Chaudhry when questioned about the reports of differences between the two top FO officials said the reports were baseless and both were working per policy guidelines issued by Nawaz. - See more at: Fatemi may head to Washington as ambassador | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia