Sir: The last minute invitation to President Zardari to attend the Chicago NATO summit has not generated the expected warmth from its members, especially from the US president. US officials are quoted as saying that it is due to the refusal to open the NATO supply routes through Pakistan and the US is using a ‘no meeting with Obama’ policy to force Pakistan to re-open the routes. Secretary Clinton during her meeting with President Zardari presented Washington’s demand list, comprising opening of the NATO supply routes, ending support for the militants and taking the issue of apology off the list of issues to be addressed. President Zardari, however, in his usual disarming smiling way, stuck to his guns that ‘it is Parliament’s decision to open the route, no Salala-type repetition, no drone attacks etc,’ which forced the US administration to have second thoughts. Indications are already there for a possible tripartite meeting between Barack Hussain Obama, Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari. How I wish when the time for this meeting comes, President Zardari is caught up with a ‘common cold’ and forced to rest in his hotel suite until all NATO cows return to their homes! That would be the most befitting rebuff to Mr Obama’s cold shoulder to our president! It will not only immortalise Mr Zardari, but also endear him immensely to 180 million Pakistanis. COL (RETD) RIAZ JAFRI Via e-mail