The US State Department is reporting today that a request to allow Special Envoy Marc Grossman to visit Pakistan has been turned down by the Pakistani government, citing the “prevailing situation” in the nation.

 

he exact “why” of this rejection has been the subject of considerable speculation, with some suggesting the move is a function of the strained relationship between the US and Pakistan since the November attack on Pakistani military bases by US warplanes.

But Pakistan’s official rejection said the timing of the visit would be “inconvenient,” suggesting it might be more a function of the deteriorating internal political situation than the long-standing gripes with the US.