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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan downplays US envoy visit | Pakistan downplays US envoy visit |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's foreign office has denied suggestions that the timing of a visit by top US diplomats is unusual. | Pakistan's foreign office has denied suggestions that the timing of a visit by top US diplomats is unusual. |
| US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in Pakistan early Tuesday. | US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in Pakistan early Tuesday. |
| It was the same day that the new PM, Yusuf Raza Gillani, was sworn in. | It was the same day that the new PM, Yusuf Raza Gillani, was sworn in. |
| Pakistan is a key ally in US President George Bush's "war on terror" and has been fighting pro-Taleban militants in tribal areas near the Afghan border. | |
| However, the US is not held in high regard by the general public in Pakistan because of its perceived stance against Islam internationally. | However, the US is not held in high regard by the general public in Pakistan because of its perceived stance against Islam internationally. |
| 'Already fixed' | 'Already fixed' |
| Mr Negroponte and Mr Boucher are expected to proceed to Karachi for another set of meetings on Thursday. | Mr Negroponte and Mr Boucher are expected to proceed to Karachi for another set of meetings on Thursday. |
| "The visit in March was on the cards for sometime," a spokesman for the Pakistani foreign office said. | "The visit in March was on the cards for sometime," a spokesman for the Pakistani foreign office said. |
| "Suggestions have been made about the timing of the visit because of the political transition in the country." | "Suggestions have been made about the timing of the visit because of the political transition in the country." |
| Mr Negroponte (right) and Mr Boucher met senior politicians | Mr Negroponte (right) and Mr Boucher met senior politicians |
| "However, the deputy secretary undertook the visit because his meetings and programme was already fixed." | "However, the deputy secretary undertook the visit because his meetings and programme was already fixed." |
| The foreign ministry also denied there was any connection between increased US aid to the tribal areas and increased attacks in that region by Nato. | The foreign ministry also denied there was any connection between increased US aid to the tribal areas and increased attacks in that region by Nato. |
| "There is no link between the two," the spokesman said. | "There is no link between the two," the spokesman said. |
| "The US has separately committed $750m for the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) over the next five years." | "The US has separately committed $750m for the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) over the next five years." |
| The foreign office statements come after the Pakistani media questioned the timing of the visit. | The foreign office statements come after the Pakistani media questioned the timing of the visit. |
| Commentators said the timing could imply that the US was trying to influence the policies of Pakistan's new government. | Commentators said the timing could imply that the US was trying to influence the policies of Pakistan's new government. |
| "It gives the impression to the Islamic extremists... that here are the Americans, trying to dictate terms," Dawn newspaper editor Zaffar Abbas told the Associated Press news agency. | "It gives the impression to the Islamic extremists... that here are the Americans, trying to dictate terms," Dawn newspaper editor Zaffar Abbas told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "The problem with the Americans is they don't understand the domestic pressure on the new government." | "The problem with the Americans is they don't understand the domestic pressure on the new government." |