Re: US govt expects Musharraf to quit army post
There seemed to some agreement between Mush and BB.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/31/top2.htm
US expects restoration of democracy
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 30: The United States has again reminded President General Pervez Musharraf that it expects that he will keep his promise to restore democracy in Pakistan in elections.
In a statement that otherwise sounded like a ringing endorsement of President Musharraf’s policies, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack observed that Washington expected the elections would lead to full democracy in Pakistan.
“He has made certain commitments in this regard and
we think it’s important that he follow through on those commitments,” Mr McCormack said when asked if it was the US government’s view that Gen Musharraf should leave the army post by the end of 2007.
On Thursday, the State Department spokesman also spoke of “the presidential” election.During a recent visit to Washington, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said that the president could only seek a vote of confidence from the new parliament to be elected in election and vowed to go to the court “if Gen Musharraf makes this unconstitutional move.”
Seen in this context, Mr McCormack’s statement appeared to be a clear indication that the US had certain expectations about restoring democracy in Pakistan and wanted Gen Musharraf to fulfil them.
“President Musharraf … has made certain commitments with respect to the presidential elections that are going to be coming up at the end of the year, but certainly we would hope that he abides by those commitments,” said the US spokesman.
Interestingly, Mr McCormack also side-stepped a question if the US endorsed Gen. Musharraf’ desire to extend his presidency.
Asked whether President Musharraf would “be able to hang on for another five years,” Mr McCormack said: “There is a set of presidential elections at the end of the year … that is going to determine who’s going to lead Pakistan as president for the next five years, I guess … So I’m not going to try to predict the outcome of those elections.”
Even while recalling President Musharraf’s accomplishments in the war on terror, Mr McCormack stressed the need to restore democracy in Pakistan.
He said that since Gen Musharraf and President George W. Bush formed an anti-terror alliance, the Pakistani leader has put his country “on a certain pathway, and that is a pathway of increased democracy, economic-political reform”. “They are areas,” he said, “where perhaps they had been lacking in the past in terms of human rights, freedom of expression and in other areas.”
Mr McCormack’s emphasis on democracy seems even more significant when viewed in the background of the question he was asked.
The reporter had asked: “In very general terms, how concerned are you about Gen. Musharraf’s increasing isolation and the rise of extremism across the country for elections coming up next year? Just looking ahead, are you concerned that his position will be significantly weakened?”
The State Department spokesman started with highlighting the reforms that Gen. Musharraf has introduced to counter “the threat from violent extremism that is resident in Pakistan and that is a direct threat not only to President Musharraf but also to friends and neighbours of Pakistan.”
In those efforts, he said, “We certainly do support him” and then went on to remind Gen Musharraf of his commitments to restoring democracy.
Mr McCormack recalled that in 2001, Pakistan was at a crossroads and President Musharraf made the decision to steer his country away from extremism. “He has accomplished a lot, but there is a lot more left to do. And in that task, certainly we stand with President Musharraf and we encourage him in his efforts,” said the US spokesman.
“A stable, prosperous, secure Pakistan is obviously in the interests of the United States as well as, importantly, in the interests of countries in that region.”
Mr McCormack also expressed the fear that is often discussed in the corridors of powers and elsewhere in Washington where Pakistan is seen as extremely volatile. “Over the years it has been a source of instability. If you look, going down from Afghanistan to Pakistan and the tensions between Pakistan and India back in 2001. Those tensions were evident when they teetered on the brink of open conflict,” he said.
The spokesman said that it was “very important” for the US to encourage economic and political reforms and better relationships among all those different countries in the region.
“And President Musharraf’s efforts in that regard are critical to not only Pakistan’s future, but the future of that region,” he concluded.
