Pakistan PM to meet US President Obama in White House in October

Washington, July 24: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to meet US President Barack Obama in White House in October, media reported.

According to Times of India, Obama's invitation to Sharif is aimed at shoring up US support for later when he has been promoting peace with its neighbour India.

''It will be an important visit. It shows that the US supports policies of the (Sharif's) government to create peace in the region by defeating militants and strengthening economy,'' an unnamed

Pakistani official was quoted as saying in Islamabad, where news of the invitation was first leaked. The White House has not confirmed the visit at the time of writing.

Official are yet to confirm about the visit likely to take place in October. PM Sharif last visited US in October 2013.

The invitation to Washington is a consequence of the Obama administration recognizing that, even though Washington continues to deal separately with the Pakistani military because of its compulsions in Afghanistan where the Pak military holds the key.

The invitation to Sharif to visit Washington is also ostensibly aimed at preventing Pakistan from completely falling over into the Chinese and Russian sphere of influence, a prospect some Pakistani strategists have raised in an effort to cadge US support.

OneIndia News