The United States has assured an all-out support to the democratic government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to continue amid political turmoil. "The United States is firmly committed to supporting the continuation of democratic government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif... I think this [democratic] system should continue," said Doug Frantz, Assistant Secretary, United States Department of State, told a group of Pakistani journalists here.
He said that Washington is watching the developments in Islamabad, adding that the US has always extended its full support to every sitting democratic government and it is also doing the same when the opposition parties of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are preparing for a mass agitation against the incumbent government.
To a question, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif government has shown interest in the economic revival and the US is also helping his government in various sectors in order to extend its support. However, about the GSP-plus like arrangement with Pakistan, he said that it is difficult process which needs congressional approval but Secretary of State Senator John Kerry is particularly finding new ways to ensure every support of the US government to the incumbent Sharif's government not only in dealing with militants but also in its quest for the economic revival.
To another question that US has supported dictators in Pakistan time and again, Doug declined to go into the past, saying that at present the US is supporting the democratic set-up in Pakistan to continue. "We are supporting the Prime Minister Sharif's efforts to keep the military in their barracks," he said, adding, the US will never support the democratic process to be derailed as it would create further complications.
"The military was very much embarrassed after the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for being hiding right under their nose and it was the right time for the former Zardari's government to take advantage of the situation, but he failed to do so," Doug added.
About the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency, he said that the US is fully supporting the military crackdown on the militants in the tribal region along Pak-Afghan border, adding that such an operation against the terrorists was important because it is being happened when the ISAF would be leaving Afghanistan shortly.
He said that the crackdown on the militants on both sides of the border is also important to prevent the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Haqqani Network to establish their safe havens on both sides of the border. When asked whether the US can play any role to convince the Afghan government to cooperate with Pakistan as far as the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan is concerned, he said that this role is under consideration but there are difficulties in conducting the joint actions on both sides of the border.
However, he asserted that it was very important for Islamabad and Kabul to cooperate with each other to eliminate terrorism as the issue of terrorism and extremism is their common challenge. He further said that Pakistan has suffered the most than any other country in the ongoing war against terrorism and the United States recognises the sacrifices of the Pakistani people and its security forces. To a question whether the US will continue to support Pakistan through its Coalition Support Fund (SCF), he said that it could be kept continued under some reasonable circumstances; however, he added, it requires some congressional approval.
About cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, Doug said that it was not a new phenomenon, adding this is the problems which needs to be addressed so that the misunderstanding between the two countries is removed. However, he added that it is very difficult for both the governments to completely address the issue of cross-border attacks as well as to ensure security along the 2,640 kilometres porous border.
Regarding the allegations and counter-allegations of the two countries on the issue of cross-border attacks, he said that US can play a mediatory role but it is the primary responsibility of the two governments in Islamabad and Kabul to address their issues. To another query about the threats to the lives of journalists in Pakistan, he said that the US government is deeply concerned over the threats to the journalists in Pakistan, adding that it was very difficult for journalists to work under the tensed circumstances.