Tim Li
Where: Washington D.C.
When: December 1 to 4, 1998
Who: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, United States President
Bill Clinton
Summary
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a three-day visit to Washington, beginning from 12/01/98, to discuss bilateral relations, nuclear nonproliferation, and security issues with President Clinton. The visit followed recent tensions between Washington and Islamawad over Pakistan's nuclear tests in response to similar tests by India.
Before Sharif's visit, Clinton announced a partial life of economical sanctions imposed on Pakistan. During their meetings, Clinton pressed Sharif to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and tighten the export of nuclear technology to other countries. Sharif said that his country would not sign the treaty until America lifts all the economical sanctions against Pakistan. No breakthrough was achieved on the nuclear issue, but American officials called the meetings were "positive".
During the meeting, Sharif asked Clinton to mediate Kashmire dispute between India and Pakistan, a proposal Clinton said he was keen to be involved. Clinton also presented Sharif a proposal for ending the F-16 dispute and asked Sharif to influence Taliban to expel Saudi Arabic dissident Osama bin Laden out of Afghanastan and bring him to justice.
Timeline:
May 1998: Pakistan and India tested their new nuclear devices. President Clinton soon declared economical and military sanctions against Pakistan and India, banning commercial loans, economical assistance, and military devices flowing into the two countries.
Oct 1998: The U.S. Congress gave Clinton limited authority to waive some sanctions imposed on India and Pakistan.
12/01/98: Clinton, on the eve of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to the U.S., partially lifted the sanctions imposed on Pakistan and India. Economical sanctions were eased, while military sanctions still remained.
12/02/98: Nawaz Sharif arrived in the U.S. and held the first meeting with President Clinton. During the meeting, Clinton pressed Sharif to sign the CTBT. He also presented Sharif a proposal for ending a long-standing dispute over American-made F-16 fighter jets that Pakistan ordered in 1989 but never received. Clinton, in addition, sought to enlist Pakistan's help in expelling Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden from neighboring Afghanistan to bring him to justice for his alleged attacks on U.S. targets in Africa. Besides meeting with Clinton, Sharif held seperate talks with Treasury Secreatary Robert Robin.
12/03/98: Another meeting between Clinton and Sharif was held. Sharif said that his country would not sign the CTBT until U.S. lifted all the economical sanctions. He also urged Clinton to mediate the dispute about the region of Kashmire between India and Pakistan.
Key Individuals, Places, and Organizations
Bill Clinton: United States President
Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan Prime Minister
Osama bin Laden: Saudi Arabic dissident, alleged to attack on U.S. targets in Africa, now hiding in Afghanistan.
Taliban: a dominant military organization in Afghanistan, now providing protection for Osama bin Laden.
Islamawad: Pakistan Capital