Highly-placed sources in Washington have revealed that United States President Barack Obama is likely to stop over for a few hours in Pakistan on his way to India.
While Mr Obama had announced that he would be visiting Pakistan in 2011, sources said that the pressure on the President by Pakistan for a brief stop-over was very intense and possibilities of his stopping to have a meeting solely on anti-terrorism operations could not be ruled out.
This brief stop-over termed as a “refuelling halt” would follow a quick hop in Kabul enroute to Mumbai on November 5. Sources however, clarified that this plan would be subject to the security environment in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
If American security agencies in Pakistan give a go ahead then the stop-over, which could even be a refuelling halt, could be considered where Mr Obama would meet with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari aboard Air Force One, the US presidential aircraft? It is unlikely that he will proceed to Islamabad which is just a 20-minute drive.