US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that Washington wanted to strengthen democratic institutions in Pakistan and that it would not support any undemocratic process in the country. He also ruled out the possibility of the WikiLeaks fiasco triggering a trust deficit between Pakistan and the US.
Munter was speaking to Express 24/7 correspondent Muhammed Rizwan. Munter stated that it was very unfortunate that the Wikileaks episode took place, adding that he had maintained strong contacts with the Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Premier Yousaf Raza Gilani and even military leaders of the Pakistani Army, claiming that they all illustrated commitment to work in cohesion with the US.
He remarked that he has been straightforward and open with the names mentioned above, adding that he enjoyed a similar response from the Pakistani leadership.
He said he earlier had a meeting with Premier Gilani, adding that both of them were of the view they would not let the WikiLeaks episode hinder the very important relationship between the US and Pakistan.
While elaborating on the relationship’s nature, he said it required the building and sustenance of friendship between the US and Pakistan, for which the US needs to render its services to the Pakistani people, and also needs to build trust in American people.
He concluded by saying, “We will do this; we will do this together.”
Asked about the war on terror, Munter acknowledged the sacrifices being rendered by Pakistan troops in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas in ongoing offensives against Taliban militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2010.
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