Obama's decision to visit India, not Pakistan, in the interest of all three countries: US!

[Norwegian]

PHOTO: REUTERS

As US President Barack Obama visits India but is not scheduled to visit Pakistan, a senior White House official said on Thursday Obama’s decision to not visit Pakistan is in the interest of all three countries.

Responding to a question whether the White House wrestled with diplomatic implications of Obama not visiting Pakistan and only India, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said, ”Frankly, that’s in the interest of all the three countries.”

Obama is the second US President after Jimmy Carter to have not visited Pakistan during their India trip.

“Considering the sensitivity of the issue, he had called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to inform him about his decision to travel to India. The president was not able to visit Pakistan in 2011, as was originally planned, given significant bilateral tensions that year, the Bin Laden raid, and a number of other incidents that took place,” Rhodes said, according to IBN Live.

“I think both countries have acknowledged that. But we’ve moved on. Recently, Secretary (of State) John Kerry was able to visit Pakistan. He was able to visit Peshawar, where the horrific terrorist attack took place. We are able to have a strategic dialogue with the Pakistanis,” he added.

Obama did not visit Pakistan during his first trip to India in November 2010 either. Carter had visited India in January 1978 but skipped Pakistan allegedly because of unstable political situations there after the Ziaul Haq-led military coup overthrew the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

All other US presidents, including, Dwight D Eisenhower in 1959, Richard Nixon in 1969, Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W Bush in March 2006, visited Pakistan.

Further, the senior official said the US’ relationship with India and Pakistan are not at the expense of each other.

“It’s important that we make clear, and the president did last time when he went to India, that we don’t view these relationships as taking place at the expense of the other. That we can have a good relationship with India and we can have a good relationship with Pakistan,”

“We believe that that relationship (with Pakistan) is on the uptick. It is as good as it has been in years. So we feel confident about our high-level engagement,” Rhodes said.

In an apparent reference to India’s response to a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, he said, “I think terrorism is an issue that can unite people who have faced traditional divides. We saw that in the aftermath of the horrific attack in Peshawar, where India was very quick to issue a statement of condolence and reach out to the Pakistani people.”

Earlier, the US urged Pakistan and India to pursue a peace dialogue to resolve their bilateral issues and the recent spate of cross border violations.
Obama’s decision to visit India, not Pakistan, in the interest of all three countries: US – The Express Tribune
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[pursuit of happiness]

PHOTO: REUTERS

As US President Barack Obama visits India but is not scheduled to visit Pakistan, a senior White House official said on Thursday Obama’s decision to not visit Pakistan is in the interest of all three countries.

Responding to a question whether the White House wrestled with diplomatic implications of Obama not visiting Pakistan and only India, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said, ”Frankly, that’s in the interest of all the three countries.”

Obama is the second US President after Jimmy Carter to have not visited Pakistan during their India trip.

“Considering the sensitivity of the issue, he had called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to inform him about his decision to travel to India. The president was not able to visit Pakistan in 2011, as was originally planned, given significant bilateral tensions that year, the Bin Laden raid, and a number of other incidents that took place,” Rhodes said, according to IBN Live.

“I think both countries have acknowledged that. But we’ve moved on. Recently, Secretary (of State) John Kerry was able to visit Pakistan. He was able to visit Peshawar, where the horrific terrorist attack took place. We are able to have a strategic dialogue with the Pakistanis,” he added.

Obama did not visit Pakistan during his first trip to India in November 2010 either. Carter had visited India in January 1978 but skipped Pakistan allegedly because of unstable political situations there after the Ziaul Haq-led military coup overthrew the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

All other US presidents, including, Dwight D Eisenhower in 1959, Richard Nixon in 1969, Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W Bush in March 2006, visited Pakistan.

Further, the senior official said the US’ relationship with India and Pakistan are not at the expense of each other.

“It’s important that we make clear, and the president did last time when he went to India, that we don’t view these relationships as taking place at the expense of the other. That we can have a good relationship with India and we can have a good relationship with Pakistan,”

“We believe that that relationship (with Pakistan) is on the uptick. It is as good as it has been in years. So we feel confident about our high-level engagement,” Rhodes said.

In an apparent reference to India’s response to a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, he said, “I think terrorism is an issue that can unite people who have faced traditional divides. We saw that in the aftermath of the horrific attack in Peshawar, where India was very quick to issue a statement of condolence and reach out to the Pakistani people.”

Earlier, the US urged Pakistan and India to pursue a peace dialogue to resolve their bilateral issues and the recent spate of cross border violations.
Obama’s decision to visit India, not Pakistan, in the interest of all three countries: US – The Express Tribune
Indian members of PDF =

@Etilla @SpArK @Srinivas @utraash @desert warrior @DRAY @pumkinduke @OrionHunter @wolfpack @pursuit of happiness @danish_vij @rubyjackass @Star Wars @Ammyy @bloo @Marxist @karan.1970 @thesolar65 @Not Sure @Arav_Rana @Avik274 @SamantK @Krate M @Major Shaitan Singh @Omega007 @farhan_9909 @haviZsultan @levina @Sidak @ranjeet @Yogijaat @Ravi Nair @WAR-rior @halupridol @he-man @Indrani @Mike_Brando @SarthakGanguly @sreekumar

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dear i disagree with this ,
indian members of PDF =

we certainly glad that things working as we wanted but making pak stand alone is not objective.
if pak govt take out terrorisam as stte policy we are more than happy ..

 

[A1Kaid]

@Norwegian

Why must every US President visit to India be preceded by or followed by a visit to Pakistan? Is there a protocol for this to happen?

 

[Levina]

Frankly I dont see any issue here, just that the media houses 're making a mountain out of a mole hill.
My guess is Obama is not visiting Pak due to security reasons. Thats all!

 

[rockstar08]

i think its good for Obama not to visit Pakistan ... it will be a headache for our law enforcement agencies to handle his security protocols

 

[Jit]

I wish obama will visit Pakistan for a day. He should not worry about security - between US and India enough security can be provided

 

[OrionHunter]

Frankly I dont see any issue here, just that the media houses 're making a mountain out of a mole hill.
My guess is Obama is not visiting Pak due to security reasons. Thats all!

And also probably the fact that Pakistan isn't as important where the volume of trade is concerned what with a paltry $6 billion to show which is peanuts. In contrast Indo-American trade is at present $100 billion slated to reach $500 billion by 2020.

Secondly, the US knows that the only agenda point that Pakistan would have is the reiteration of the Kashmir issue which is dead. Thirdly, the majority of Pakistanis hate America and what it stands for. So during the visit you'd have shills like General Hafiz Saeed and gang organising massive anti-American protests which would be rather embarrassing.

So visiting Pakistan is of no use to man or beast. It's just a waste of time!

 

[pursuit of happiness]

Frankly I dont see any issue here, just that the media houses 're making a mountain out of a mole hill.
My guess is Obama is not visiting Pak due to security reasons. Thats all!

--
no dear.. read finer lines..
how much time clinton spent last tour of pak ..?
even if its 1 hr visit at airport it show solidarity with nation that we are with you in diffuclt time because we belive in you and your policy .. which exactly lacks in current pak-usa govt
obama did gone to afganistan in unannounced visit .. he can pit stop.. but will he and why ? will not then why are real question to ask objectively..

i think its good for Obama not to visit Pakistan ... it will be a headache for our law enforcement agencies to handle his security protocols

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not visting its bigger headches for long time and many aspect

And also probably the fact that Pakistan isn't as important where the volume of trade is concerned what with a paltry $6 billion to show which is peanuts. In contrast Indo-American trade is at present $100 billion slated to reach $500 billion by 2020.

Secondly, the US knows that the only agenda point that Pakistan would have is the reiteration of the Kashmir issue which is dead. Thirdly, the majority of Pakistanis hate America and what it stands for. So during the visit you'd have shills like General Hafiz Saeed and gang organising massive anti-American protests which would be rather embarrassing.

So visiting Pakistan is of no use to man or beast. It's just a waste of time!

--
there internal politcs is invesely proportional to nationl poloicy of pak and us interest ..so if china is still holding is horse despite claiming firsnhip of deeper than pcan and moutain ..... others still long way to come in line to accept it

 

[SrNair]

I can see an alternative helpless revelation from Spokesperson.
I think visiting India not Pakistan would ensure complete Indian supportfor their peace effort in South Asia.Otherwise India may show a cold shoulder towards US .

 

[ares]

@Norwegian

Why must every US President visit to India be preceded by or followed by a visit to Pakistan? Is there a protocol for this to happen?

There isn't, but in South Asia, Pakistanis equate themselves with India, believes the Americans should give them the same importance, as India. Therefore gets seriously offended when an American representative visits India and not Pakistan.

For example In 2000, Bill Clinton visited India for 5 days and didn't even stop in Pakistan for 5 hrs on the way back...such was the futility of his visit to Pakistan..that he even refuse to get photographed with or even shake hands with Pakistani president Musharraf.

 

[RescueRanger]

Good decision on his part not to come. I can't say I am not disappointed, because that would be lying but I do think it is in the interests of Pakistan that he didn't come in the end. Can't be arsed with the level of protection required for a US President.

 

[notsuperstitious]

This is truly a utopean world where everyone is happy. US, India and Pakistan!!! The more pakistan accepts a position in line with their importance in the region, the better for all parties.

 

[syedali73]

We should look towards East now. Looking forward for Chinese premiere's visit.

 

[A1Kaid]

There isn't, but in South Asia, Pakistanis equate themselves with India, believes the Americans should give them the same importance, as India. Therefore gets seriously offended when an American representative visits India and not Pakistan.

For example In 2000, Bill Clinton visited India for 5 days and didn't even stop in Pakistan for 5 hrs on the way back...such was the futility of his visit to Pakistan..that he even refuse to get photographed with or even shake hands with Pakistani president Musharraf.

India has over a billion people just by sheer numbers it has importance. Soon to be the most populous country on Earth.

 

[ni8mare]

India has over a billion people just by sheer numbers it has importance. Soon to be the most populous country on Earth.

NO WONT....India to reach replacement levels of fertility by 2020 - The Hindu