The United States expressed hope on Tuesday that Pakistan’s latest political crisis would be resolved in accordance with the country’s constitution amid a showdown between the judiciary and government.
The State Department did not expect the turmoil from a top court ruling to derail Washington’s diplomatic dialogue with Islamabad, spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. “We’ve said all along that we expect that Pakistan will resolve any of these internal issues in a just and transparent manner in accordance with Pakistan’s own laws and constitution,” Nuland said.
“Our understanding is that the Pakistani government itself is meeting now to decide how it goes forward from here,” she said. The Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from office on Tuesday in a ruling that dissolved the cabinet and threatened to trigger elections later this year.Despite the uncertainty, Nuland said the US working relationship with Pakistan would go ahead.
“Throughout this process, which has been going on for a number of months now, we have continued to work with the Pakistani government and try to get through some of these issues that have been difficult,” said Nuland, referring to disputes including a Pakistani blockade on Nato supply convoys into Afghanistan.
“So it is our hope and expectation that we’ll be able to continue to do that, but they obviously have to work their internal issues internally.”
Relations between Pakistan and the United States have come under severe strain over the past year, following a unilateral US raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a botched US air strike that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead in November.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2012.
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Whoever becomes Pakistan's new prime minister, his cabinet members might remain the same. Hence there might not be much change in its relationship with the U.S. unless both countries are ready for concessions.
US has no right to even give press briefings about Pakistan. These manipulators will keep using their corrupt puppets in Pakistan to pursue their dirty objectives. But rest assured they will never succeed. Individually we may look week but as a nation we are stronger than steel and US stands no chance.
US' leaders please keep it in your minds that new prime minister may be appointed/elected on the basis of these terms: 1-Take solid and practical steps stop drone attacks on priority basis as soon as possible after being elected, 2-Close NATO's supply routes forever, 3-Control load shedding immediately and 4-Make Pakistan free of US' interference thru any means and manifestations.