As the Government looks at taking another shot at pushing through the nuclear deal with the US, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is gearing up for some high-profile and politically visible visits in the coming month or so. He is headed for the US in the last week of March and then he will travel to Pakistan to signal the start of a new chapter in bilateral engagements with Pakistan’s new, democratically elected government. In May, he is expected to travel to China on an important bilateral visit that is likely to focus on seeking Beijing’s support at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In the midst of all this, Mukherjee will also have to manage the affairs of the UPA-Left committee on the civilian nuclear deal with the US, making it a very busy summer for the most experienced hand in the Manmohan Singh Government.
