Islamabad, Apr. 3: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif is expected to meet President Obama’s Special Representative Richard Holbrooke during his forthcoming Islamabad visit, The News reports.

Sharif’s visit to the US embassy in Islamabad would be a major U-turn for the PML-N, which has criticized PPP leaders for going to the American ambassador’s residence to meet the US envoy or other visiting dignitaries.

“The fact is that the US officials have visited Raiwind many times for meeting Nawaz Sharif and meetings are a mutual phenomenon. We never struck secret deals, in closed doors, and our history is an open book,” The News quoted PML-N sources, as saying.

Meanwhile, US officials say they will stay in touch with Sharif and other opposition leaders in Pakistan and their meetings with him are nothing unusual.

“Nawaz Sharif is trying to show flexibility to gain the Americans’ confidence, as while it is easy for any Pakistani politician to try and mobilize support among the people by acting as anti-American, in the end they always have to work with the United States. The same is happening with Nawaz Sharif,” a PML-N leader said.

Americans say they are working closely with the democratically elected Pakistani government led by President Asif Ali Zardari and the opposition party. The policy to work with opposition party is not just limited to Pakistan, but US general diplomatic policy, they added.

“There is a government in place. We are working with the government. There are opposition parties, we have regular contacts with them not only in Pakistan but also in all countries,” State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid had stated in response to a question if Washington is looking more towards PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.

The US officials will have discussions with opposition parties and their members in order to discuss with the entire political leadership how they see that Pakistan moves forward. (ANI)