US stresses investment in Pakistan rather than in Musharraf
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States on Monday stressed its investment in Pakistan and its people rather than in President Pervez Musharraf as it renewed calls for him to put the country back on the path to democracy.
The comments from the State Department appear to bolster the views of analysts who say President George W. Bush's administration has stopped seeing Musharraf as an "indispensable" friend in the war on terrorism.
Asked if Bush had misjudged Musharraf as a pro-democracy ally, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the Pakistani leader had carried out political and other reforms before imposing emergency rule on November 3.
And though it had welcomed such reforms, the United States has now "taken strong issue with the actions he has taken in declaring the state of emergency," McCormack told reporters.
The move undermined US interests, he said, referring to Washington's stand that Pakistan's democratic development is the best way to keep religious extremism at bay.
Though "he is a good friend and ally," McCormack said, "we have an investment in the relationship with Pakistan and the Pakistani people," who, he added, will decide who their leader will be.
He said that Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, during his weekend visit to Pakistan, "talked to President Musharraf and other members of the Pakistani government to offer his advice and counsel as a friend."
But there was no sign of a swift end to the emergency, even though Negroponte said it was "not compatible" with holding a free and fair vote, something Musharraf says will take place by January 9.
A Pakistan government statement said Sunday that Musharraf made a recommendation to the country's election commission that it should hold general elections on January 8.
Negroponte also urged Musharraf to free political opponents, lawyers and rights activists who have been flung into jail, and lift curbs that have shut down private TV news channels.
The top US diplomat on Monday briefed Bush following his return to Washington, but White House spokeswoman Dana Perino declined to reveal details of the conversation and how the president reacted.
Nor did Perino give any hint of any immediate change in course from the United States.
"Remember, in diplomacy, when you have this type of outreach, you can't expect instant results. So we are going to continue to have an open line of communication and dialogue," she said.
In general, Perino said "we remain concerned that there has not been a lifting of the emergency order" but described as good steps Muharraf's renewed promise to hold elections and remove his military uniform.
Negroponte said Musharraf had promised to step down as army chief before being sworn in as president.
The Supreme Court, which was purged after the state of emergency and then restocked with Musharraf allies, on Monday swatted away the main challenges to his re-election as president.
Musharraf cannot be sworn in until the court rules on the validity of his victory in an October 6 presidential poll that gave him another five years in power.
Negroponte also met other key officials including General Ashfaq Kiyani, Musharraf's likely successor as army chief, and spoke by telephone with Benazir Bhutto, the opposition leader and former prime minister.
Bhutto and Musharraf had been in power-sharing talks before the emergency, with the United States eyeing an alliance of two moderate, pro-Western figures as the best way to counter Taliban and Al-Qaeda extremism.
"The United States is interested in the reconciliation of all the moderate political elements," said Anne Patterson, the US ambassador in Pakistan, after meeting Bhutto in Karachi.
