H2O3C4Nitrogen
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WASHINGTON – The United States is “very carefully” watching the unfolding “major political drama” in Pakistan after the Supreme Court struck down an amnesty shielding President Asif Ali Zardari and other politicians, a senior American diplomat says.
“But”, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said, “so far it has had no effect on our national security interests, but it’s something that we’re watching very carefully.”
Discussing on a television programme the measures taken by the United Sates to boost its fight against militants in the Pak-Afghan region, he said forging cooperation with Pakistan was complicated, “but it has been a very complicated year in Pakistan. And even as we talk, there’s a major political drama unfolding in Islamabad right now.”
He said that the crisis in Pakistan involved various branches of the government and individuals. “How it’s going to come out remains to be seen,” Holbrooke said on PBS programme: Charlie Rose Show.
State Department
Meanwhile, the US State Department said that any fallout from the striking down of the National Reconciliation Ordinance is Pakistan’s “internal matter” and Washington will not “try to get in the middle of it”.
“This is really an internal matter for the Pakistani government,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley. He was replying to a question about the political developments in Pakistan following the recent the Supreme Court order verdict declaring the NRO unconstitutional that has led to reopening of several cases against some of the beneficiaries.
“It’s not for us to try to get in the middle of that. What is important is that the Pakistani government and its leadership be seen as legitimate in the eyes of the Pakistani people. You know, there was an election in Pakistan,” Crowley said.
“President Zardari came to office through a legitimate parliamentary process. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected by Pakistani people. If there is a legal judgement that changes the status of the government, that is really an internal matter for Pakistan,” he asserted.
US watching Pakistan 'very carefully': Holbrooke | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
“But”, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said, “so far it has had no effect on our national security interests, but it’s something that we’re watching very carefully.”
Discussing on a television programme the measures taken by the United Sates to boost its fight against militants in the Pak-Afghan region, he said forging cooperation with Pakistan was complicated, “but it has been a very complicated year in Pakistan. And even as we talk, there’s a major political drama unfolding in Islamabad right now.”
He said that the crisis in Pakistan involved various branches of the government and individuals. “How it’s going to come out remains to be seen,” Holbrooke said on PBS programme: Charlie Rose Show.
State Department
Meanwhile, the US State Department said that any fallout from the striking down of the National Reconciliation Ordinance is Pakistan’s “internal matter” and Washington will not “try to get in the middle of it”.
“This is really an internal matter for the Pakistani government,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley. He was replying to a question about the political developments in Pakistan following the recent the Supreme Court order verdict declaring the NRO unconstitutional that has led to reopening of several cases against some of the beneficiaries.
“It’s not for us to try to get in the middle of that. What is important is that the Pakistani government and its leadership be seen as legitimate in the eyes of the Pakistani people. You know, there was an election in Pakistan,” Crowley said.
“President Zardari came to office through a legitimate parliamentary process. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected by Pakistani people. If there is a legal judgement that changes the status of the government, that is really an internal matter for Pakistan,” he asserted.
US watching Pakistan 'very carefully': Holbrooke | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
