Kerry to visit Pakistan in January

[rox63]

This is from a Pakistani paper. I included the whole item, since it's pretty short.

Senator Kerry To Visit Pakistan In January

By Mohsin Zaheer

New York:-- US Senator and former democratic party's presidential candidate John Kerry (D-MA) would visit Pakistan and earthquake hit areas of Azad Kashmir next year, it is learnt through reliable sources. During his almost one week trip he would visit India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

It is told that he will stay in Pakistan for two days. A prominent Pakistani American Shahid Ahmad Khan would also visit Pakistan alongwith Senator Kerry.

The details of the Senator Kerry's visit to Pakistan is being worked out but it is learnt that other than meeting with President and other officials, he intends to meet with some other people from different walks of life and some politicians as well. It is also told that Senator Kerry would offer his maximum support for rehabilitation and reconstruction of earthquake affected areas.

It is noted that father of the current US president and the former US president George Bush senior who has recently been appointed Special Envoy by U N Secretary-General is also planning to visit Pakistan and Kashimir sometime early next year and U S Vice-President Dick Cheney, has recently been to Pakistan.

http://thepakistaninewspaper.com/news_detail.php?id=3851

[Inuca]

1. I wonder...

... if he will go alone (as the snippet you posted seems to imply) or with some other Congress members, as seems to be the usual MO for these kind of visits...

[rox63]

2. Last time he went to Iraq

I believe he went alone. And I believe he is stopping in Iraq again on this trip. My suspicion is that it's a 'solo' trip, with just a few of his staff. I hope he stays safe. Pakistan and the Middle East are not exactly safe places for prominent Americans these days. :scared:

[karynnj]

4. Didn't he come back on the plane from Iraq

with Senators Stevens and Warner. (I had assumed he was with them - though even a plane flight back with Stevens would be painful)

[TayTay]

3. That's great!

I'm glad that he's going over there again. It will be good to assess what is going on in Iraq after Dec 15th vote and see if anything has changed in the political situation. It's also good that he is surveying the area where the earthquake hit. That is so awful. All those poor people who now have to get through a brutal winter with nothing, just nothing. (Boy '05 was just a brutal year for weather-related disasters. There are so many humanitarian crises going on. It's so overwhelming.)

This is a good time to go. The Alito thing should really start cooking next week when all the pre-hearing hype starts. Sen. Kerry has talked repeatedly about the benchmarks that have to be met in order to draw more and more troops down. Well, he can for himself and talk to people on the ground and see what's going on over there. I look forward to the update. (And I hope he doesn't have to go with Sen. Stevens again. That is cruel and unusual punishment and would be even more cruel post-ANWR debate.)

[karynnj]

5. I'm impressed though that Stevens had the strength to go at his age

and there are VERY few things that impress me about him. I wonder if the personal contact might be why it wasn't Kerry that he said he wouldn't forgive. Kerry's comments on his actions were tough, but it might be that although they've fought over ANWR, he sees Kerry as sincere.

It is scary when Kerry goes to Iraq and to Pakistan - but as you said, he needs to assess how things are really going.

[globalvillage]

6. Snow, rain bring misery to Pakistan survivors

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Heavy snow and rain brought more misery to Pakistan's earthquake survivors on Monday, halting relief work, bringing landslides down on roads and flooding tents across the cold, wet mountains.

There were no reports of deaths from sickness or accidents in the first severe weather of a late winter, a major test for the army and the United Nations, who are running the relief effort, and for more than two million homeless survivors.

More than a foot of snow fell on the mountains while a relentless icy rain drenched the valleys. The meteorological department said the bad weather might last until Jan. 7.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL81955.htm

Any word when he's going?