Changes in State Department not to affect Pak-US ties: foreign office

Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan has said the changes in US State Department will not affect Pak-US relations rather they will further be strengthened in the days to come. Pakistan has no reservations whatsoever on whatever the changes are being made in the State Department, the spokesman told Voice of America. Practically speaking he said the efforts were made during past four-five years to put US-Pakistan relations on new foundations and successes were achieved in this regard.
"If we look into 1990s, the US had imposed different military and economic sanctions on Pakistan," he said, adding during the last three-four years these sanctions were lifted and a new foundation was laid down for long-term relationship between the two countries.
To a question he said during the process of US elections a debate was started by various quarters as what will be the policy of the Democrats towards Pakistan if they come in power.
"But now this debate is no longer relevant as Bush has been elected for the second time also," he said.
Pakistan and the US understand and tried that their relations should not be confined to the on-going co-operation regarding war on terrorism only, rather there should be such architecture of framework in economic, trades, defence and political and strategic fields wherein both the countries could put their relations on solid and strong foundations, the spokesman said, adding, "we have done so."
To another question he said Pakistan has worked with Condeleeza Rice in the past also because she was National Security Advisor.
"There is no doubt that the US is a superpower and Pakistan is an important regional power," Masood said, adding, "Pakistan is called a pivotal state at the international level."
"So it is in the interest of both the countries to continue strengthening their relations," he added.
Responding to yet another question he said, this time Pakistan established its relations with the US without requesting for any aid.
"This time an economic forum exists between Pakistan and the United States and a trade and investment framework agreement has also been signed," he said.
He said: "A mechanism also exists for terrorism and law enforcement that is called Defence Consultative Group." The US has granted major Non-Nato ally status to Pakistan.
Masood said: "The United States is also interested in peace and stability and behind the scene it has made efforts for continuation of talks between India and Pakistan for the solution of the Kashmir dispute."
He said: "Pak-US co-operation is necessary and much wanted for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, to remove influence of warlords and to stop narcotics and drug trafficking."