WASHINGTON (Sami Abraham): Expressing the hope that Pakistan's current domestic political situation would not get parallel to March 16 crisis when top US officials had to make phone calls to Pakistani leadership to sort out the issue of restoration of judiciary, Special US Presidential Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan , ambassador Holbrook has said that United States never chooses sides but only supports the leadership of constitutionally elected Governments.
Giving an exclusive interview to the Geo News at the State Department here on Monday evening ambassador Holbrook said though during the recent trip of secretary Clinton to Pakistan ,this issue of NRO was not much discussed but the US officials were fully aware of it." Pakistanis are very sensitive to the issue of their sovereignty that’s why I don’t want to say any thing about it “he added
Ambassador Holbrook when asked does he believe that the unfolding events, due to NRO issue, would lead to the point where Washington would have to make the phone calls to scale back the situation, ambassador Holbrook said " I hope not. But let's see what happened. We are interested in stability, democracy and active leadership and people working in the system in an orderly way". He further said “We got involved in March because the issue had potential to spiral out of control into the streets and secondly all sides had thought that if we made some phone calls it would help so we did it .But we never supported any cause. We only asked all sides to show restraint" he added.
Holbrook when asked to comment on the reports in which top US officials had said that Pakistani security forces were not going after Alqaeda the way they should have been, he said that Pakistani Government was very serious about routing out the miscreants and militants at highest levels. Now does this mean that every person in the Pakistan army is equally committed to this cause the answer is “probably not" he added.
Ambassador Holbrook said that Gen Ashfaq Kayani and Gen Pasha had said to Secretary Clinton, in a meeting in Islamabad that “we are as committed as you are to this cause " and I believe in them, ambassador Holbrook added. He further said that security operation in Waziristan was going very well and he was not saying this because Pak army was telling him this thing. Independent residents of the area have told him that this time the security forces are coming on these militants very heavily, he added.
To a question about Pakistan’s complaints that India was supporting militants in tribal area and insurgents in Balochistan , he said Pakistani leadership did raise this issue in the meeting and US officials fully understands these concerns.
Ambassador Holbrook said that the trip of Secretary Clinton was, perhaps, one of the most remarkable trip he ever had with any Secretary of state. He said Secretary Clinton, during the trip spent most of the time with public besides fielding the toughest questions imaginable. And she also had very useful private meetings with President Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, leaders of JUI and military leaders. He also mentioned how Secretary Clinton got emotional during the reception at the Presidential palace when she threw away her speech for the toast, went up to the podium and leaned into the podium, talked about Benazir Bhutto in a very emotional way how much she admired her and what she meant to her.
When asked does he believe that opponents of Kerry Lugar bill were, now convinced, that it was not a compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty, ambassador Holbrook said that he does not know whether they were able to convince any body but he said it was explained fully.
He said those who attacked the Kerry Lugar bill did not understand it. It did not have any set of condition for Pakistan. It has set of reporting requirement on US Government which was a standard practice in the case of all such legislation's. He said enemies of relationship between India and Pakistan portrayed Kerry Lugar bill as an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty which was “ridiculous"
He said those who oppose the Kerry Lugar Bill are the ones who either oppose the present Pakistani Government or supporting the Taliban
Ambassador Holbrook said as Secretary Clinton mentioned in one of her conversation that there should never have been any issues with Kerry Lugar Bill because these kinds of reporting requirements had been attached with every aid bill to Pakistan and any other country. But there was a communication failure on the part of US officials for not explain it properly to the people of Pakistan
He said that there should have been more money allocated for people of Pakistan in Kerry Lugar bill but it was upto the Congress to take a decision in this regard. He said strategic dialogue will be resumed between the United states and Pakistan, next year , and US secretary of State Hillary Clinton will lead the US delegation whereas previously deputy secretary of state used to lead such dialogue. He said now under the Kerry Lugar bill US administration will move for the full appropriation of the money besides making efforts to get the ROZ's legislation done in the US Congress.
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