New Delhi, April 10: This weekend, a meeting is set to take place in Pakistan to mediate a permanent ceasefire between the United States and Israel. Delegations from both the U.S. and Iran will participate. Amid these developments, discussions have intensified regarding the security of the U.S. delegation traveling to Pakistan.
Since 2006, no U.S. president has visited Pakistan, reflecting a growing sentiment of insecurity and a lack of trust in the country. In contrast, the U.S. has shown greater confidence in India, with eight presidents visiting India nine times, compared to five visits to Pakistan.
The U.S. officially recognized India as an independent nation on August 15, 1947. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established earlier, on September 2, 1946. Thomas H. Wilson was appointed as the first American Commissioner to India in 1941. Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Pakistan were also established on August 15, 1947.
According to media reports, the U.S. has had 47 presidents since 1789. They have visited India nine times, with the first presidential visit occurring in 1978.
Notable visits include Jimmy Carter from January 1-3, 1978, Bill Clinton from March 19-25, 2000, George W. Bush from March 1-3, 2006, and Barack Obama from November 6-9, 2010. Donald Trump visited India on February 24-25, 2020, and Joe Biden made a trip from September 8-10, 2023. There are discussions about Trump potentially visiting India again during a second term.
The first U.S. presidential visit to Pakistan occurred in 1959, with Dwight D. Eisenhower visiting from December 7-9. Other presidents who visited include Lyndon B. Johnson on December 23, 1967, Richard Nixon on August 1-2, 1969, Bill Clinton on March 25, 2000, and George W. Bush on March 3-4, 2006.
Since 2006, no U.S. president has visited Pakistan, partly due to the 26/11 attacks in the U.S. There were suspicions that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks, was sheltered in Pakistan, a claim Pakistan has consistently denied. The tension escalated when the U.S. conducted a covert operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011, killing bin Laden. This incident strained relations between the two countries. To ease tensions, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other senior officials visited Pakistan.
Additionally, China’s growing influence in Pakistan may contribute to the U.S. distancing itself from the country. Now, after more than a decade, a U.S. delegation is set to travel to Pakistan to address the conflict with Iran.
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