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Bush confident in post-Musharraf Pakistan
 Allies …. US President George Bush and Pervez Musharraf. |
US President George W Bush trusts that Pakistan will remain a solid ally against Islamic extremism after President Pervez Musharraf’s resignation, the White House said.
“We’re all in this together. And the people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan know that,” spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters as Bush spent time on his Texas ranch.
“So we’re confident that while we certainly all have more to do when it comes to fighting terrorism, the government of Pakistan will continue in the effort,” he said after Musharraf announced he would step down to avoid the first impeachment in the nuclear-armed nation’s history.
The key US ally, who seized power in a 1999 coup, announced the move in a lengthy televised address, rejecting the charges against him but saying he wanted to spare Pakistan a damaging battle with the ruling coalition.
Bush is confident that Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who visited the White House in late July, believes that extremists pose a threat to Pakistan as well as to the United States, said Johndroe.
“While this political process is under way, we certainly expect they’ll keep up their fight against terrorists and extremists, and, because of what I just said, this is a fight that they are in as well,” the spokesman said.
“That’s what the prime minister said when he was in Washington,” he said, and “President Bush is committed to a strong Pakistan that continues its efforts to strengthen democracy and fight terror.”
“President Bush appreciates President Musharraf’s efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaeda and extremist groups,” said Johndroe.
“President Bush looks forward to working with the government of Pakistan on the economic, political and security challenges they face,” he said, adding that US aid would continue despite the political shifts.
Johndroe also rejected any charge that the close US-Pakistan relationship had made Pakistan a target for extremists.
“The extremist ideology is one that has been out there and among these groups for many years,” he said. “Let’s be very clear about where this started, and that’s with the extremists.”
Earlier today US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Musharraf “a friend to the United States and one of the world’s most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism”.
“We will continue to work with the Pakistani government and political leaders and urge them to redouble their focus on Pakistan’s future and its most urgent needs, including stemming the growth of extremism,” Rice said in a statement.Subscribe=>
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