Wednesday, July 20 2005 20:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's visit to Washington, scheduled to take place on July 28 (Thursday), was called off because of the Bush Administration's reluctance to give him more than a business like welcome, which was accorded to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

Pakistan's suggestions that he be hosted at a White House dinner or invited to address a joint session of Congress, like Prime Minister Singh, were turned down politely but firmly, 'Daily Times' newspaper reported.

Neither were there any guarantees available that his media reception would remain 'respectful,' it said, adding it was also discreetly suggested that Aziz was an 'elected' Prime Minister in a technical rather than in a real sense.

The US regarded President Pervez Musharraf as the man in charge of power in Pakistan, it said.

Also the London bombings turned out to be a 'final straw' for Aziz's visit as it was felt here that the fallout of the July 7 blasts would cloud the visit and far from improving it would further sully Pakistan's image, the report said.

The cancellation came at Pakistan's request, and while it does not affect the relationship between the two countries in any adverse sense, it has certainly caused a certain amount of awkwardness and embarrassment to both sides, the report said, adding that no fresh dates were fixed for the visit and Aziz was unlikely to be in Washington any time soon.