ISLAMABAD, (Dawn): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is likely to get a lukewarm reception when he lands here on Monday on his second trip to Pakistan in about four months amid an aggravating diplomatic row between London and Islamabad in the aftermath of a botched terror probe involving Pakistani students.
The diplomatic tension between the two countries sparked by Prime Minister Brown’s statement disparaging Pakistan for not doing enough against terrorism is said to have risen to a point where British Foreign Secretary David Miliband could not speak to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi over the past few days despite repeated requests for telephonic conversation.
Moreover, visas were not given by Pakistan’s High Commission in London to a British team intending to visit Pakistan for negotiations on the deportation pact.
Diplomatic sources said that while Mr Brown during his last trip in December rudely accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism, this time he may be up to hard talk by the Pakistani leadership.
Observers are attaching immense importance to Mr Brown’s unscheduled dash to Islamabad and say it points to the gravity of the situation.
During his day-long stay here he would be meeting Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari.
The sources said that although Prime Minister Brown would not be apologising for his shocking statements following the arrests, he would try to explain Britain’s position to his interlocutors.
He is likely to put pressure on Pakistan to sign the proposed pact on deportation.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/brown-may-get-lukewarm-welcome-in-islamabad
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