Musharraf in the US

US cannot ignore Pakistan now: Musharraf
Paktribune.com

NEW YORK: President General Pervez Musharraf has stated that United States cannot ignore Pakistan since the US has vital interests in the region.

He expressed these views on Monday evening in the Nixon Centre talking to American think tanks. Sources reported that president talked about how the Pak-US relations evolved from 1947 to the post-9/11. He spoke about the opinion of Pakistani government and the perceptions of common man about the United States.

President talked about his Camp David meeting and enlightened the audience on issues such as becoming a non-NATO ally, strategic relationship and the F-16 deal with the United States.

President stressed the importance of Pakistan and said that United States cannot ignore Pakistan since the US has vital interests in the region. China is also located in the region, therefore Pakistan’s importance cannot diminish. Thus, even if the war on terror ends, the US will stay in the region.

President called on the American investors to invest in Pakistan. Investment in the field of defence should be enhanced. He asserted that Pakistani also needs a civil nuclear energy deal as was concluded with India. The deal will be strictly for energy purposes.

President further said that the US should back the India-Pakistan peace process to expedite it.

In addition, president talked about the Waziristan deal, Hudood Bill and democracy. He held that some portions of Pakistani population has reservations about the American role in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, however, this does not mean that people as a whole are against America.

President held that the general elections of 2007 will be held on time and will be free and fair, and he will decide about the uniform in accordance with the constitution. He invited the American officials to monitor the general election.

He also expressed his view regarding the India-Pakistan peace talks and said that it will benefit both the countries.

He assured that Taliban has nothing to do with the Waziristan deal. Problems are created by the Afghan refugee camps, where many of these people go in hiding. Afghan refugees should return to their country.

Taliban has no roots in Pakistan. problems should be solved politically alongwith the use of force. In this way terrorism and extremism can be overcome, he said.

Also see: Comments on Musharraf's speech in the United Nations
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