US presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke on Friday voiced the Obama administration's full confidence in the ability of the democratic Pakistan government to deliver services for its people and rubbish media reports, implying that Washington might be concerned about the performance of the elected government to the point of seeking change.
Referring to stories that spoke of the Obama administration considering the civilian government weak, Holbrooke, special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, said: "I don't understand these stories. "President (Barack) Obama has invited President (Asif Ali) Zardari to Washington next week, one of the first visitors he has had since he became President," he told a Pakistani television channel in an interview, adding: "Our support is for the democratically elected government of President Asif Ali Zardari.
"It's simple as that. Who has President Obama invited to Washington next week? President Zardari. "This is journalistic garbage. This is journalistic gobbledegook. It's a story being hyped by journalists," he added, when asked to comment on interpretations in the Pakistani press about President Obama's remarks in a press conference.
The remarks referred to the weakness of civilian institutions in Pakistan and were widely interpreted by the Pakistani press as signalling an American assessment of the civilian government being weak. Holbrooke pointed out that the fact was the US administration was supporting Islamabad in overcoming challenges facing the country.
"Let us focus on facts. We helped Pakistan raise five-and-a-half billion dollars in Tokyo two weeks ago. We are asking Congress for more money for Pakistan. We are focusing on helping your country faced down a serious terrorist threat from the west, the Taliban, al Qaeda and other terrorists. "Journalists can write anything they want. You have a free press. That is part of a strong democracy, but it is not true," he said.
He stated: "It's true that our Chairman of the Joints Staff Admiral Mullen visits Pakistan quite often. But that is to offer assistance to your country. General (Ashfaq Parvez) Kayani, the head of the army, has pledged support for the democratic and civilian government of Pakistan. We take him at his word," said Holbrooke.
He said President Obama also had "very deep personal feelings for Pakistan. As a young man, he visited Pakistan. His mother worked there, she loved Pakistan. "And we are not throwing bricks over Pakistan. I don't even know what that means. We are helping Pakistan. We believe Pakistan is a critically important country.
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