Vicky19
24th March 2005, 19:59
India has suddenly become the Mecca for both serving and ousted Pakistani leaders as there is a string of diplomatic pilgrimages lined up in the coming months.
First, it was the General's mother, his brother and son. And now it is the turn of Benazir Bhutto, the self-exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister along with her husband Asif Ali Zardari.
However Benazir, to arrive in New Delhi on April 1, is not expected to meet any political leaders. President, Pervez Musharraf is himself scheduled to arrive shortly after Benazir's arrival to watch the cricket match.
Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif is expected to visit India in October to talk business. He will meet former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The Daily Times quoted sources as saying that the Saudi Government had already issued special travel documents to the exiled leader allowing him to travel oveseas, except Pakistan.
It is not only the leaders who want to cross the border, but common Pakistanis from Lahore to Sind, to Baluchistan, to Chitral who find India warm, welcoming and ofcourse strikingly similar. And huge numbers are here to watch the Indo-Pakistan cricket series.
Experts doubt whether this euphoria would have been possible or even shortlived if the the BJP were in power. They also doubt if they would have invited the architect of the Kargil war, Sharif.
But things have changed for good, and even better it is the BJP who is seeing the change. Even their hardliners have softened their stand. Or so it seems.
In a recent televised interview to an Indian channel, BJP leader LK Advani was hopeful that Pervez Musharraf will deliver.
With even the opposition's change in perception, the present government should use it to their advantage and make the full use of the Pakistani visitors.
While these visits are part of an informal framework, they could provide the right ambience to discuss issues of conflict between the two countries. Or even prepare the ground for future talks.
A visit to the Taj and other places of interest have always been part of the visitors' itinerary. Even lesser known places have found their atttention.
Benazir Bhutto's spokesman, Farhatullah Babr, quoted in The Daily Times said she would visit shrines in Jaipur and Ajmer and would stay for a few days.
"As far as I know, no political meetings have been requested, or lined up, or are expected," the spokesman told a news agency.
If these visits are possible, it is because of the relaxation of visa regulations by both the countries. But Pakistanis feel they want more.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...how/1060976.cms (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1060976.cms)
First, it was the General's mother, his brother and son. And now it is the turn of Benazir Bhutto, the self-exiled former Pakistan Prime Minister along with her husband Asif Ali Zardari.
However Benazir, to arrive in New Delhi on April 1, is not expected to meet any political leaders. President, Pervez Musharraf is himself scheduled to arrive shortly after Benazir's arrival to watch the cricket match.
Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif is expected to visit India in October to talk business. He will meet former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The Daily Times quoted sources as saying that the Saudi Government had already issued special travel documents to the exiled leader allowing him to travel oveseas, except Pakistan.
It is not only the leaders who want to cross the border, but common Pakistanis from Lahore to Sind, to Baluchistan, to Chitral who find India warm, welcoming and ofcourse strikingly similar. And huge numbers are here to watch the Indo-Pakistan cricket series.
Experts doubt whether this euphoria would have been possible or even shortlived if the the BJP were in power. They also doubt if they would have invited the architect of the Kargil war, Sharif.
But things have changed for good, and even better it is the BJP who is seeing the change. Even their hardliners have softened their stand. Or so it seems.
In a recent televised interview to an Indian channel, BJP leader LK Advani was hopeful that Pervez Musharraf will deliver.
With even the opposition's change in perception, the present government should use it to their advantage and make the full use of the Pakistani visitors.
While these visits are part of an informal framework, they could provide the right ambience to discuss issues of conflict between the two countries. Or even prepare the ground for future talks.
A visit to the Taj and other places of interest have always been part of the visitors' itinerary. Even lesser known places have found their atttention.
Benazir Bhutto's spokesman, Farhatullah Babr, quoted in The Daily Times said she would visit shrines in Jaipur and Ajmer and would stay for a few days.
"As far as I know, no political meetings have been requested, or lined up, or are expected," the spokesman told a news agency.
If these visits are possible, it is because of the relaxation of visa regulations by both the countries. But Pakistanis feel they want more.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...how/1060976.cms (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1060976.cms)