The atmosphere we are witnessing this time was never seen in the past." Ecstatic Pakistani community

[Shahzaz ud din]

Why is the administration so low key !!!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1152933273003319296

President Zardari stayed in the $5,000 per night (approximately Rs 410,000) presidential suite

Rs 410,000 per night for a room in Washington!
WASHINGTON: Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director General Dr Shoaib Suddle and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who all needed top security in Washington, were not given a room on the ultra-protected presidential 6th floor of the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington during President Asif Ali Zardari’s stay. But his security detail of three sepoys, two lance naiks, one Hawaldar and several other officers below the rank of lieutenant general were lodged on the same floor, said a document published by the Pakistan embassy on the visit.

President Zardari stayed in the $5,000 per night (approximately Rs 410,000) presidential suite, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was given a separate suite, which cost $2,600 per night.

Responding to a journalist’s question, a Pakistan embassy official said Zardari’s stay was the cheapest as compared with the past rulers, who spent much more money while staying in hotels in Washington. Moreover, he said, this was the requirement of the hotel that the president should stay at the 6th floor because of security concerns.

He said if other members of the president’s delegation would have been accommodated in another hotel, that would have been objected to by the critics as discrimination. He said the president had come to the sole super power of the world to improve bilateral ties. He said what was spent on the stay of Zardari and his entourage at the hotel matters nothing in view of the gains that this trip had made for the country.

No one without an official security badge (clearance pin) could enter the 6th floor, while entry to other floors was open. The official media team was included in the 62-member delegation of Zardari, but many other journalists were also in Washington at government expense.

A total of 26 rooms were available on the 6th floor (listed rates between $350 and $900 per night) while on the 5th

A total of 22 rooms were listed for the delegation on this floor (same rates as on the 6th floor). A media centre was set up in two lounges — Holmes and Hughes rooms. One room was given free of charge by the hotel as a group discount.

The list of the president’s delegation, published by the Pakistan embassy, gave details of officials of the Foreign Office and other departments, personal staff, security staff and media team.

President Zardari and Bilawal were first and second on the Pakistan embassy’s list. Other officials listed in the order included: Shah Mehmood Qureshi (foreign minister), Nazar Muhammad Gondal (food and agriculture minister), Rehman Malik (interior minister), Qamar Zaman Kaira (information minister), Salman Faruqui (secretary-general to the president), Shaukat Fayyaz Ahmed Tarin (adviser to the prime minister on finance), Farahnaz Ispahani (MNA), Kamal Majidullah (special assistant), Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali (secretary defence), Farhatullah Babar (spokesperson for the presidency), Dr Shoaib Suddle, Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Zafar Altaf (PARC chairman) and Ghulam Murtaza Solangi (Radio Pakistan DG).

The personal staff included: Maj-Gen Tasawwar Hussain (personal physician to the president), Brig Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain (MS to the president), Cdr Amir Saeed (acting deputy MS), Sqn Ldr Malik Jalal Farooq (ADC to the president), Saifullah (protocol assistant) and Mushtaq Ahmed (valet).

The security staff of 10 people included: Brig Muhammad Iftikhar Mansoor (DG security), Lt-Col Babar Mumtaz (chief security officer of the president), Lt-Col Adil Rehmani (security officer), Gul Khan Bhounar (security officer), Hav Muhammad Jamil (security officer), Lance Naik Gul Zameen (security officer), Sepoy Tahir Azam (security officer), Lance Naik Abar Ali (security officer), Muhammad Habib Sultan (security officer) and Sepoy Sajid Hussain Shah (security officer).

The officials from the Foreign Office included: Attiya Mehmood (addl secretary Americas), M Haroon Shaukat (addl secretary Afghanistan and ECO), Nasir Ali Khan (ambassador at large), Ghalib Iqbal (chief of protocol), Ameer Khurram Rathore (FMO director), Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi (deputy chief of protocol), Imran Ali Chaudhry (director Americas), Adeel Ahmed Khan (protocol officer) and Nadeem Hotiana (DPIO).

The officials from other departments included: Khurshid Anwar Butt (joint DG/in-charge Advance Security Team), Malik Zahoor Ahmed (NAPHIS DG), Rashid Bashir Mazari (interior joint secretary), Col Hammad (staff officer), Ashiq Saleem (Advance Security Team), Muhammad Sajjad Haider (FIA deputy director), Muhammad Farhan Zahid (SP/ICT) and Abdul Majid Aasi (NCMC AD).

The official media team included: Shazia Sikander (PTV reporter, team leader), Salahuddin Malik (PTV cameraman), Abdul Ghaffar (PTV engineer), Syed Anwarul Hasan (PTV reporter), Khurshid Naqvi (PTV cameraman), Anwar Naseem (PTV engineer), Muhammad Tariq (PID photographer), Syed Adnan Ali Rizvi (PID photographer), Javed Akhtar (APP director news), Ilyas Chaudhry (APP reporter), Tariq Hameed (APP cameraman), Zain Ali Javed (APP engineer) and Fakhar Abbas Qamer (Radio Pakistan).

The Pakistan embassy booklet revealed that Zardari stayed in the Thomas Jefferson Suite (Room No 610, nearly 3,000 square feet, listed rate US$4,199 per night plus $608 tax) and Bilawal took the Abraham Lincoln Suite (Room No 605, 1,425 square feet, listed rate US$2,299 per night plus $333 tax) of the Willard Intercontinental Hotel at Pennsylvania Avenue, respectively. These suites are on the 6th floor.

Others who stayed on the same floor included: Mr and Mrs Husain Haqqani (Room 612); Kamal Majidullah, special assistant to the prime minister on water resources, (Room No 626); Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali, secretary defence (Room No 624); Farhatulah Babar (Room No 622); Zafar Altaf, PARC chairman, (Room No 641); Murtaza Solangi (Room No 642); Maj-Gen Tasawwar Hussain (Room No 616); Brig Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain (Room No 614); Cdr Amir Saeed (Room No 618); Sqn Ldr Malik Jalal Farooq (Room No 600); Saifullah (Room No 630); Mushtaq Ahmed (Room No 619); Brig Muhammad Iftikhar Mansoor (Room No 623); Lt-Col Babar Mumtaz (Room No 625); Lt-Col Adil Rehmani (Room No 628); Gul Khan Bhounar (Room No 601); Hawaldar Muhammad Jamil and Lance Naik Gul Zameen (Room No 627); Sepoy Tahir Azam and Lance Naik Akbar Ali (Room No 629); Sepoy Muhammad Habib Sultan and Sepoy Sajid Hussain Shah (Room No 631); Attiya Mehmood (Room No 626); M Haroon Shaukat (Room No 632); Ghalib Iqbal (Room No 620); and Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi (Room No 634). The ISI DG got Room No 523 on the 5th floor. The IB DG was in Room No 528 and Ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Room No 510, Nazar Muhammad Gondal in Room No 515, Rehman Malik in Room No 500, Qamar Zaman Kaira in Room No 544 and Shaukat Tarin in Room No 508.

The Capital Suite (Room No 640) was reserved for presidential meetings. Rooms 643 and 644 were taken by the Pakistan embassy as the camp office. Other than these 62 members of the presidential delegation, several members of the private media were also in Washington at government expense. They stayed at different hotels and travelled separately, but were paid by the government to cover the visit.


https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/175413-rs-410000-per-night-for-a-room-in-washington

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[shahbaz baig]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1153092334587977728

 

[Norwegian]

@waz @Dubious double thread

 

[Arsalan]

She has a valid point!!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1152620148320350208

No she doesnt. The status of visit to USA have been explained in detail already on an other thread. Please check that.

The level of visits as per US State Department

According to official State Department guidelines, there are five types of visits to be accorded to a ranking member of a foreign government. They are: a "state visit," an "official visit," an "official working visit," a "working visit," and a "private visit."

The guidelines say that the "state visit" is the highest ranking visit and can only be offered to a chief of state -- such as the president of a country or a reigning monarch like Britain's Queen Elizabeth -- and must be at the invitation of the U.S. president.

During a state visit, the guest is offered a room for four days and three nights at Blair House, the President's official guest house, located within walking distance of the White House.

A state visit ensures a meeting with the U.S. president, a state dinner at the White House, a full honors arrival and departure ceremony on the south grounds of the White House, and a 21 gun salute. Gifts may be exchanged and spouses can attend the ceremonies and dinners. Press availability and photo opportunities are plentiful.

The next highest visit is the "official visit." An official visit can only be offered to a head of government such as a prime minister and must be at the invitation of the U.S. president.

The guest is offered quarters at Blair House for three nights and four days. During an official visit the head of the government is entitled to a meeting with the U.S. President, a full honors arrival and departure ceremony on the south grounds of the White House, a 19 gun salute and official dinner at the White House. Gifts may be exchanged and spouses can attend the ceremonies and dinners.

In practice there is little difference between a state visit and an official visit except for the rank of the visitor, the difference in the number of guns fired in salute the visitor receives and the description of the White House dinners -- a state dinner verses an official dinner.

However, there is a big difference between state and official visits and an official working visit or a working visit.

State Department guidelines say that an "official working visit" can be offered to either a chief of state or the head of a government, but it must be extended by the U.S. president himself.

Blair House is then offered for two nights and three days and the guest is entitled to a meeting with the President, followed by a working luncheon at the White House. A dinner or reception is possible, but decisions are only on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Secretary of State is a participant at the working luncheon so no separate meeting is arranged. There is no ceremony upon arrival and departure. The press is usually granted some photo opportunities and occasionally there is a press conference. There is no gift exchange and spouses do not attend the luncheon.

A "working visit" is the next in the rank of visits. A working visit is extended to a chief of state or head of government at the invitation of the U.S. president. A working visit normally consists of a meeting with the president at the White House, but without a luncheon, dinner or formal press availability. There is no gift exchange and spouses do not attend the luncheon.

The last type of visit is the "private visit." A private visit involves a chief of state, head of government, foreign minister or any other government official who arrives in the U.S. without the invitation of the U.S. president.

The visitor may request a meeting with the U.S. president and if it is granted, it is often referred to as a "working session." Blair House is not offered and spouses do not attend the session. There is no gift exchange and no official press availability although photo opportunities may be possible."

In IK case the US President invited him over for a working visit but with lunch included!!

BTW there have been four State Visits by Pakistani Presidents Ayub Khan x2, Zia ul Haq x 1, and Musharraf x 1. NS last visit to US was in the Private Visit Category.

The point being that IK was invited over to US for a number of reasons, paramount being the Afghan Peace Process.

I see some headway being made in Pak US relations after this visit. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is at the White House for his first face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump.

The meeting is part of a push to mend relations, which have been strained by the Afghan conflict.

Mr Trump reduced security aid to Pakistan early last year, accusing the country of "lies and deceit".

Mr Khan said US assistance was "minuscule" compared with what the US-led "war on terror" had cost Pakistan.

Since he won Pakistan's general election just under a year ago, he has called for "mutually beneficial" ties with America, while remaining an outspoken critic of US anti-terrorist tactics such as drone strikes.

The Trump administration is trying to negotiate its military withdrawal from Afghanistan with the Taliban, a militant group it has long accused Pakistan of supporting.

As well as counter-terrorism and defence, the two leaders are likely to discuss trade and investment as Mr Khan battles to fend off a balance of payments crisis after a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

How did relations fray last year?
Since Donald Trump took office in 2017, his administration has adopted a hard line against Pakistan, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and misleading the US over the issue - charges Islamabad denies.

However, a couple of months before that Twitter clash, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had already raised the prospect of a reset with the new government of Mr Khan.

Five things to know about Imran Khan
According to Pakistan's foreign office, Mr Khan's visit "will help renew and reinvigorate long-standing ties between Pakistan" and the US.

Adding to the positive mood music came a new tweet from Mr Trump on Wednesday, announcing that Pakistan had arrested the "mastermind" of the 2008 terror attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, after a search lasting two years.

Khan and Trump basics

• Khan, 66, was best known as Pakistan's most famous cricketer before he took office as prime minister in July 2018 following his PTI party's election victory; property tycoon and reality TV star Trump, 73, took office as US president in January 2017
• Khan governs a nation of 197 million people; Trump - 316 million
• Trump is an avid tweeter with 62m followers; Khan has just under 10m
• Imran Khan: From cricket hero to Pakistani PM

How crucial is Afghanistan to the relationship?

Writing in Foreign Policy, Sherry Rehman, Pakistan's ambassador to the US between 2011 and 2013, argues that "stabilizing Afghanistan is Pakistan's only real trump card" in its dealings with the US.

Pakistan has always denied it was the architect of the Taliban. It was one of only three countries to recognise them after they took power in Afghanistan in 1996 and the last to break diplomatic ties when US-led forces ousted the movement after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Few observers doubt that Pakistan has been instrumental in getting the Taliban to the table for direct talks with members of the Afghan government this month, a negotiation praised by US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad as a "big success".

Men checking a list of casualties after a car bombing in Kabul this month
The Trump administration is keen to end a war which, according to US officials, costs about $45bn annually, and to withdraw most or all of the 14,000 American soldiers deployed there.

• What could peace in Afghanistan look like?

In the opinion of Ms Rehman, Pakistan has already "received some muted recognition of its unprecedented efforts to facilitate these delicate negotiations" in two respects this month:

• The US listed the Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group active in Pakistan, as a terrorist group
• The IMF approved a $6bn loan package for Pakistan

"Pakistan has been facilitating the US-Taliban talks in good faith, underscoring that it remains a shared responsibility," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said recently.

"It will therefore be appropriate to work for broader engagement from Afghanistan to bilateral issues, economic and trade co-operation, to peace and stability in South Asia."

What are Khan's economic aims?

The US, a major source of foreign investment in Pakistan, remains its largest export market, so trade is very much on the agenda in Washington.

However, financial pressures have led Pakistan to go further afield in search of aid and it attracted Saudi pledges of investment deals worth $20bn this year.


Given that Pakistan is so strapped for cash, Mr Khan has been keen to portray an image of austerity. He used to be known as a celebrity playboy but now styles himself as a pious, anti-poverty reformer.

Before he left for the US, reports said he planned to stay at the Pakistan ambassador's residence in Washington, rather than waste money in an expensive hotel.

Pakistan has also been seeking new assistance from China, its biggest foreign investor and also a major aid donor.

So Imran Khan must tread a delicate path between Mr Trump's America and its economic arch-rival, Beijing.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Some official figures of the show!!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1153162838640340992