When Head Of State Imran Khan was preparing for his initial journey to the US after taking office, he was not certain of what to expect provided US Head of state Donald Trump's uncertain nature and his previous diatribe against Pakistan.
The head of state was recommended to step cautiously as everyone would have their eyes on this event and any kind of bad move can threaten the visit.
Talking at the US Institute for Peace, Imran reaffirmed that he was "swamped with advice from all quarters" regarding what to go over with the US Head of state.
Even the Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid, who is famous for his repartees, before the head of state's trip remarked: "Both Imran and Trump are same. God assist us, I am terrified."
His words were implied to recommend that provided the unpredictability of both the leaders, anything can happen.
In the middle of this backdrop, when the head of state entered inside the White House and was welcomed by Head of state Trump, the various other members of the Pakistani delegation were full of fear. Even Imran could be seen as being extra cautious.
Inside the Oval Office, the 2 leaders sat down for a media event and brief remarks.
Trump started by saying that he was honoured to invite to the White House a person who is amongst the greatest athletes of all times and now a popular leader.
The media session was meant to be short yet with Trump on the steering wheel, most likely nothing will go as planned. The session continued for over 40 minutes where Trump unknowingly and perhaps accidentally handed Imran and Pakistan a major Public Relations success.
In events such as this which are held between the heads of 2 alienated allies, visuals constantly matter. Trump's statement on Kashmir was not just unexpected for Pakistan but likewise shook India and its chauvinistic media considering that it had constantly bragged of an informal bond between Head of state Narendra Modi and Trump. They were anticipating Trump to talk Modi's language with Imran.
Yet unlike India's expectations, Trump not just appreciated Pakistan's efforts for assisting in the Afghan peace discussions yet likewise offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue.
What shocked every person was Trump's disclosure that Modi himself had lately asked for his assistance to mediate between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir dispute.
His revelation led to an uproar in India, which immediately turned down Trump's assertion that Modi had asked for arbitration. The contention resonated in the Indian parliament where the opposing parties demanded a clarification from Modi himself regardless of the Indian external affairs ministry's rejection.
Before the trip, every person was anticipating the matter of Afghanistan to dominate the conversations. It definitely did, yet not many had anticipated that Kashmir and Pakistan-India affair would take the spotlight.
It is certainly a PR success for Pakistan because India, under the Modi leadership, has been working to quarantine Pakistan around the world for a fairly long time. The Indian media proudly asserts that the Trump administration is biased towards New Delhi over Islamabad.
Michael Kugelman, a senior associate specializing on South Asia at the Washington-based Wilson Center, summarized Imran-Trump meeting in his following tweet: "At any rate, my main takeaway is that Trump’s comments here, for the most part, are exactly what Pakistan wanted to hear. An unintended PR win for Islamabad."
Imran as well as his staff members, that most likely visited the White House with a great deal of hesitation, returned with an achievement that Pakistan would certainly be quite glad with. Imran himself had actually recognized that he as well as his delegation were 'blown away' by Head of state Trump's friendliness as well as straight talk.
Nonetheless, eventually what establishes the future of the Pak-US relationship or Trump-Imran rapport is just how much Islamabad will have the ability to fulfill the two vital US needs that consist of convincing Afghan Taliban for a long-term ceasefire as well as sway them for an intra-Afghan dialogue.
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