By NNN-APP,
Washington : The United States has underscored its respect for the new Pakistani government with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowing Washington’s continued cooperation with the civilian democratic dispensation.
“We respect this new government. We have been great advocates of the return to civilian government in Pakistan and a democratic government. We are going to work with them as a civilian government and keep the lines of authority straight when we work with them,” she stated in an interview with Cable News Network.
She also acknowledged the elected leadership’s declaration that the fight against terrorism is Pakistan’s fight.
“We are supportive of a government in trying to make clear to their people that this is Pakistan’s fight. I think that’s very important. They said this is Pakistan’s fight,” she said according to a transcript released by the State Department.
Dr Rice also recognized the fact that the fight against extremism needs more than a military strategy but remarked that some terrorist elements are irreconcilable.
“And may be there are reconcilables, but the history, given what President Musharraf tried, is that what happens when you allow a kind of cooling period is that the terrorists take advance of that and come back and attack. We are also, though, very much in agreement that there needs to be more than a military strategy, “ she said commenting on the anti-terror plan.
Stressing on Washington’s recognition of socio-economic development for long-term counter terrorism efforts, she said, the US administration supports the initiative on establishing reconstruction opportunity zones in border regions of Pakistan Afghanistan.
That’s why we have advocated to have more aid of the economic kind, of health and education, go into this area. And there is some reason for hope, because after all, these frontier areas in the elections did not vote for extremist parties.
In reply to a question in the context of Kabul’s threats to pursue militants across the border into Pakistan she termed the talk as “not wise.”
“I think it’s probably not wise to talk about Afghan cross-border operations,” Rice said.
Continuing, she stated :”I think it’s better that Pakistan and Afghanistan cooperate on their respective sides of the border.”
The top U.S. diplomat said the Taliban on both sides of the rugged border have to be defeated.
“But I think it’s probably better that the respective governments deal with their own problems,” she added.
The United States, she said, is prepared to help in any way that we can.
“But the cooperation between the two will make it more difficult for there to be the kind of cross-border terrorism that is being experienced. But I think it’s probably better that they work it from their respective sides of the border.”
Answering another question, Secretary Rice said the United States believes that the issue of judiciary is for Pakistanis to decide and acknowledged that an independent judiciary is critical to democracy.
An independent judiciary is critical to democracy. There are some issues because this one is highly politically charged in Pakistan.
“We have always believed that after the elections this (issue of judiciary) will be worked out in course between Pakistanis and it is best that this be worked out between Pakistanis.”
In response to a question, she stated the United States has worked with President Pervez Musharraf and credited him with bringing the civilian rule back to the country and putting Pakistan on a different course.
Rice said the state of emergency imposed on November 3, 2007 was a mistake and added President Musharraf made a number of mistakes. Asked if President Musharraf should resign now, Rice said this is a Pakistani matter.
“This is clearly a Pakistani matter. He’s the President of Pakistan and we’ll treat him as the President of Pakistan. But Pakistan is in a period now of bringing its new democratic institutions into being. They will work through these matters. But President Musharraf has been a good ally. He did a lot for Pakistan in bringing it into civilian rule. And he’s somebody that we will continue to treat with respect,” she stated.