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 Obama had announced that he would be visiting Pakistan in 2011, sources said that the pressure on the President by Islamabad for a brief stopover 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 'refueling 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 refueling halt, could be considered where President Obama would meet with President 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.
The Chaklala Air Force base where Air Force One might land is near the garrison town of Rawalpindi and is often dubbed the Andrews Air Force Base of Pakistan.
Various scenarios are being worked out and the possible stop over is being kept highly hush hush.
Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani and intelligence chief General Shuja Pasha have been taken into confidence and President Zardari is on standby for a dash to the airport in the scenario that POTUS (president of the United States) might call on the front line ally.
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Coverage: President Obama visits India