>>United States Concerned About Restoring Democracy in Pakistan
Deputy Secretary of State Travels to Islamabad on Saturday
By Harry Dunphy
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, August 22, 2002; 3:17 PM
WASHINGTON –– The United States expressed concern Thursday that President Pervez Musharraf's moves to expand control of Pakistan could hinder an eventual restoration of democracy in the south Asian nation.
"We are concerned that his recent decisions could make it more difficult to build strong democratic institutions in Pakistan," said the State Department's deputy spokesman Philip T. Reeker.
"It is of vital importance that full, democratic civilian rule be restored in Pakistan," he said.
Reeker said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who is on an Asian tour, will arrive in Islamabad Saturday for talks with Musharraf on the constitutional changes he announced Wednesday and other issues.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Armitage, who has a reputation for speaking his mind, will be firm in setting forth U.S. views.
The measures Musharraf announced will allow him to dissolve the elected parliament and appoint military leaders and Supreme Court justices. Musharraf took control of Pakistan in a bloodless coup in 1999.
Reeker said it is "extremely important that Pakistan hold free and fair national and provincial elections in October. ... We hope that following these elections President Musharraf will take advantage of a new opportunity to develop a dialogue with elected civilian officials."
He refused to be drawn into a discussion of the changes Musharraf announced and rejected suggestions the United States has looked the other way at some of Musharraf's actions because he is a close ally in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.
"We've made quite clear that part of the war on terrorism includes looking for democracy because where there's democracy there's less opportunity for extremist and terrorist enterprises to thrive," Reeker said.
When Musharraf took control he was at first shunned by the United States and its Western allies. That changed when he abandoned support for the Afghan Taliban and joined the U.S.-led war against terrorism, allowing the Americans to use bases in his country and helping track down Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives who fled to Pakistan last year.<<
washingtonpost.com |
