US denied Pak PM the red carpet

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's arrival in the US for an official visit earlier this week was bereft of any diplomatic courtesies extended to visiting foreign leaders.

On arrival at the Andrews Air Force Base in Washington on Sunday afternoon, Gilani had to walk from his aircraft to a welcome shed, a distance covered in two to three minutes.

While walking this distance, Gilani and his wife ���were seen quite perturbed as neither there was an ordinary carpet nor the customary red carpet, as is usual on official visits���, The News daily reported.

At the gate of the shed, Gilani was received ���by none higher than Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher,��� the report said.

All ministers and others accompanying Gilani on his first visit to the US after becoming the Prime Minister were told to remain in the aircraft. This prompted Information Minister Sherry Rehman to mildly protest at the treatment they were getting.