Zardari’s Foreign Trips

I have been trying to compile a list of all Zardari’s foreign trips for some time now as he has spent most of his time outside Pakistan, sharing drinks, than in Pakistan.

Following is a little break down of most of his trips since he assumed Presidency on September 9th 2008.

September 12 – 14	“Personal” visit to Dubai.
September 14 – 17	Three day visit to London to drop off his daughter, Bakhtawar, at Ediburgh University. He also manages to meet PM Gordon Brown.
September 21 - 30	Arrived in London on his to New York where he is scheduled to attend UN General Assembly session along with his entourage of 60 people. (wow!!)
----- Sept 25	Took time out from his busy schedule to hit on Republican nominee Sarah Palin. (Sorry..I had to add this to the list)
October 14 – 17	First “official” visit to China on the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao
November 4 – 5	Two day visit to Saudi Arabia with an entourage of 200 people. The aim was to seek an economic bailout to avoid an IMF loan. (yea Right!!). Prime Minister later defended Zardari’s 200 men joy ride by claiming that the trip was personally paid by Zardari and not the Government.
November 11 – 15	4 day trip to United States to participate in the high-level session of UN General Assembly on 'Culture of Peace’
November 16	Arrived in London for an 'over-night’ stay on his way home.
November 24 – 25	Two day trip to UAE to ask for more money.
December 4 – 8	Arrives in Turkey for attend the second trilateral summit. Came back to offer Eid Prayer at Aiwan-e-Sadr on the 9th.
December 19	One day visit to neighboring Afghanistan.
Year 2009
January 6	Another visit to Afghanistan to discuss regional peace. He was received at the Kabul Airport by First Vice President Ahamad Zia Massoud (Why didn’t President Hamid Karzai received him?)
February 20 – 24	Arrived in China on a four day visit to sign bilateral pacts and memorandum of understanding. The News reports that “[the] President Zardari has no meeting scheduled with his Chinese counterpart or the prime minister.”(more..)
March 10 – 12	Two day visit to Iran to hold talks with the Iranian leadership and to attend the 10th ECO Summit.
March 23 – 25	Leaves for Dubai on a two day “private” visit to spend some time with his family.
March 31 – April 3	Another visit to Turkey for a trilateral summit between Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
April 15 – 17	Three day visit to Japan to attend Friends of Democratic Pakistan and donor’s conference. (WTH?? more money..!?)
April 17 - 19	Arrived in China directly from Japan (did not get a chance to even stop home to change clothes..)
April 30 – May 3	Three day official state visit to Libya (Libya! seriously?.. to discuss what?.. how to sell nuclear assets to US..?)
May 4	Arrive in Great Britain on a private visit
May 5 - (whenever)	“First official visit to US” (so the last one was paid for by Zardari???). He arrived in New York today (May 10th) and I am not sure when will he be leaving.

Zardari took office on September 9th 2008 and in less than 8 months, he made over 20 foreign country tours. Why is he always running away from his beloved country?

May be he loves Pakistan so much that he wanted to experience his love away from it. Or may be he is bothered by constant load-shedding or the rising inflation. May be he got his cell-phone snatched while talking to Sarah Palin…and now he is afraid to stay in Pakistan… there can be many different possibilities.

Sources

I would like to thank my fellow blogger who started this list initially at http://fiverupees.blogspot.com/2008/12/asif-zardaris-many-foreign-trips.html

I have consulted many different sources to compile the list above, more sources that can be listed here. If anyone needs any information or source of the information listed above, please leave a comment and I’ll direct you to the appropriate source document.