Pakistan firm on US envoys’ travel ban

The visiting US Senator John McCain has failed to get any commitment from Pakistani political and military leadership pertaining to the Obama administration’s demand of withdrawing the restrictions imposed on the movement of American diplomats in Pakistan, with President Asif Zardari asking him in turn for cooperation and relations based on mutual respect.

Republican Senator McCain, who reached Islamabad on Saturday on a two-day visit, called on President Zardari soon after his arrival and later met PM Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani. Improvement in strained Pak-US relations was at the top of Senator McCain’s agenda of talks.

However, his emphasis was on the withdrawal of travel restrictions imposed by Islamabad on the US diplomats and he made this demand in all three meetings that he held with the leaders.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has issued temporary 30-day NoCs to US diplomats for travel around the country but the issue needs to be settled on a permanent basis. The Obama administration decided to seek McCain’s help as he enjoys good reputation in Pakistan for his pro-Islamabad stance.