Author: Pradeep Kaushal
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 12, 2003
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=25639
Introduction: Former Pak envoy to
New Delhi sent word that he wanted to meet Dy PM but backed out
L K Advani received an unscheduled
visitor soon after his arrival here, when US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
called on him at his hotel room. But a personal friend never showed up
as expected: former Pakistan envoy to India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, currently
his country's envoy here.
Sources said Qazi had sent a message
to Advani through a common friend, a couple of days before the Deputy Prime
Minister left for the US, to find out if he was welcome to call on him
at Washington. Advani had said 'yes' without thinking twice.
Soon after his arrival here, Advani
asked Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh whether there'd been any message
from Qazi expressing a wish to meet him. Mansingh replied in the negative.
As Advani flew off to Los Angeles today after the conclusion of his official
talks with President George W Bush and senior US officials, there was no
word from Qazi.
The Pakistani diplomat had shared
a warm personal relationship with Advani during his stint in New Delhi
and kept in touch with him even after he was forced to leave following
India's withdrawal of its High Commissioner to Islamabad in the wake of
the attack on Parliament.
In fact, he had recently gifted
a biography of Abraham Lincoln's to Advani. In the accompanying letter,
Qazi told the Deputy Prime Minister that the pleasant memories of his stay
in Delhi were still fresh in his mind and affirmed that he could not forget
the warm personal support he had received from him and his family throughout
his tenure.
One incident that touched Qazi was
when, during a dinner at Imperial Hotel at New Delhi the day after the
attack on Parliament, he stood completely isolated and dejected. Advani's
wife Kamla happened to spot him and sent for him.
While they were engaged in conversation,
Advani also walked in and joined them. He immediately sought to pull Qazi
out of the feeling of being unwanted by saying that, though they both had
certain national commitments to fulfill, there was no reason for these
to come in the way of their normal personal relationships.
