As I predicted getting rid of Nawaz would bear fruit for Musharraf's government. And indeed it as - the outgoing US administration id praising Musharraf's honesty, his economic ans social reforms and his restraint on Kashmir.
Additionally, the US has announced millions to fund private Pakistani education and an easing on the curbs to Pakistani technology exports.
Things are looking very good for Pakistan and we have a unique chance to build an effective relationship with the incoming Bush administration.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jan20...main/main3.htm
'US to continue supporting democracy through NGOs'
Inderfurth says US wants a moderate Pakistan as envisaged by Jinnah; praises Musharraf
News Desk
WASHINGTON: Outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth has praised General Musharraf as "a man of his word" who promised not to be vindictive against Nawaz Sharif and pardoned him later.
Inderfurth was briefing South Asian newsmen for the last time before leaving his post for the new Republican nominee, yet to be named by President-elect Bush.
He said Nawaz Sharif's departure was "a decision of Government of Pakistan" and said Gen Musharraf had said he was "not a vindictive man". "The pardon of Nawaz Sharif proves that Musharraf is a man of his word," he said.
Inderfurth said if Pakistan sticks to the IMF programme, US will continue to support Islamabad. "US will also continue assistance for democracy through NGOs," he added. On present efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue, Inderfurth said it was home-grown. The biggest achievement of the Clinton administration in South Asia, was the resolution of the F-16 issue with Pakistan.
He said it was more important as to how Afghanistan was governed rather than who governed it. Taliban must comply with the latest UN resolutions. Inderfurth said new Secretary of State Colin Powell had been briefed at length on South Asia. "The new administration will continue to follow the Clinton administration policies," he hoped.
APP adds: Talking to Washington's South Asian Press Corp, Inderfurth said: "The United States would like to see Pakistan a moderate and stable state as envisaged by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah."
"Washington wants to see a Pakistan that is stable, democratic and prosperous. It wants to see Pakistan develop as a moderate state in line with the vision of its founder," he said.
He said that the US was staying engaged with Pakistan and it would do what it could to reinforce the positive trends. Asked what role, if any, the United States had played in what appeared to be the start of a process of detente in the sub-continent, especially with reference to Kashmir, Inderfurth replied what was being witnessed today was entirely "home-grown" and a direct result of the efforts made by the leadership in the region. He said that those outside the region or "others" were greatly interested in this developing situation and would support the process. He said that the Clinton administration was leaving South Asia on a "hopeful note" and it appeared that there were chances of a "serious dialogue" between India and Pakistan.
He reminded the journalists that President Clinton had said more than once that he would like to see India and Pakistan resume their dialogue and it seemed conditions now existed for it to materialise.
He referred to the ceasefire in held Kashmir, the withdrawal of some forces by Pakistan from the Line of Control, the "maximum restraint" exercised by Pakistan and the impending visit of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) leaders to Pakistan as signs that things were moving in a positive direction. He appeared to be in no doubt that the incoming Republican administration would continue the policies of the Clinton administration and support the present trends in the region.
Answering a question, Inderfurth said that there had been positive developments in Pak-US relations and referred to the Brownback amendment that had made it possible for the United States to support education programmes in Pakistan, despite the existing sanctions. He said that several million dollars had already been set aside in current funding for the purpose and a US team had been sent to Pakistan to make an on-spot study so that assistance could be funnelled in the right programmes.
He indicated that NGOs would have a role to play in this and they would receive financial assistance from Washington in support of their efforts to spread education and raise the level of literacy. "Education is of fundamental importance," he said.
Inderfurth expressed satisfaction with the state of Pak-US relations and referred to the recent agreement between Pakistan and the IMF as well as the forthcoming meeting of the Paris Club. He said that the best antidote to extremism was economic reform. He recalled that during his Pakistan visit, President Clinton had told General Pervez Musharraf that the United States supported his economic revival programme.
Among the "specific accomplishments" of the Clinton administration, he listed the settlement of the outstanding F-16 dispute with Pakistan and the payment to Pakistan of the outstanding amount from the aborted aircraft deal in the form of food. He called the detonation of nuclear bombs in 1998 by India and Pakistan and the Kargil conflict as "disappointments".
Asked about his successor, he said that he was in no position to answer the question but, if asked by the incoming administration, he would express his opinion. During questioning, the name of Shirin Tahirkheli was mentioned more than once, mostly by Indian correspondents who have been filing unhelpful stories about her to their newspapers, emphasising her Pakistani origins.
Inderfurth was confident that his successor would be a person best suited for the job that he called exciting. He said that in all his years at the State Department, he might have had days when the news was bad but he had never had a bad day. He called South Asia a fascinating area.
Inderfurth expressed great admiration for the new Republican Secretary of State, General Colin Powell to whom he had provided a two-hour briefing on South Asia last week. He said that the General had come without aides, had asked a lot of questions and taken copious notes. He called it a "good session".
Additionally, the US has announced millions to fund private Pakistani education and an easing on the curbs to Pakistani technology exports.
Things are looking very good for Pakistan and we have a unique chance to build an effective relationship with the incoming Bush administration.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jan20...main/main3.htm
'US to continue supporting democracy through NGOs'
Inderfurth says US wants a moderate Pakistan as envisaged by Jinnah; praises Musharraf
News Desk
WASHINGTON: Outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth has praised General Musharraf as "a man of his word" who promised not to be vindictive against Nawaz Sharif and pardoned him later.
Inderfurth was briefing South Asian newsmen for the last time before leaving his post for the new Republican nominee, yet to be named by President-elect Bush.
He said Nawaz Sharif's departure was "a decision of Government of Pakistan" and said Gen Musharraf had said he was "not a vindictive man". "The pardon of Nawaz Sharif proves that Musharraf is a man of his word," he said.
Inderfurth said if Pakistan sticks to the IMF programme, US will continue to support Islamabad. "US will also continue assistance for democracy through NGOs," he added. On present efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue, Inderfurth said it was home-grown. The biggest achievement of the Clinton administration in South Asia, was the resolution of the F-16 issue with Pakistan.
He said it was more important as to how Afghanistan was governed rather than who governed it. Taliban must comply with the latest UN resolutions. Inderfurth said new Secretary of State Colin Powell had been briefed at length on South Asia. "The new administration will continue to follow the Clinton administration policies," he hoped.
APP adds: Talking to Washington's South Asian Press Corp, Inderfurth said: "The United States would like to see Pakistan a moderate and stable state as envisaged by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah."
"Washington wants to see a Pakistan that is stable, democratic and prosperous. It wants to see Pakistan develop as a moderate state in line with the vision of its founder," he said.
He said that the US was staying engaged with Pakistan and it would do what it could to reinforce the positive trends. Asked what role, if any, the United States had played in what appeared to be the start of a process of detente in the sub-continent, especially with reference to Kashmir, Inderfurth replied what was being witnessed today was entirely "home-grown" and a direct result of the efforts made by the leadership in the region. He said that those outside the region or "others" were greatly interested in this developing situation and would support the process. He said that the Clinton administration was leaving South Asia on a "hopeful note" and it appeared that there were chances of a "serious dialogue" between India and Pakistan.
He reminded the journalists that President Clinton had said more than once that he would like to see India and Pakistan resume their dialogue and it seemed conditions now existed for it to materialise.
He referred to the ceasefire in held Kashmir, the withdrawal of some forces by Pakistan from the Line of Control, the "maximum restraint" exercised by Pakistan and the impending visit of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) leaders to Pakistan as signs that things were moving in a positive direction. He appeared to be in no doubt that the incoming Republican administration would continue the policies of the Clinton administration and support the present trends in the region.
Answering a question, Inderfurth said that there had been positive developments in Pak-US relations and referred to the Brownback amendment that had made it possible for the United States to support education programmes in Pakistan, despite the existing sanctions. He said that several million dollars had already been set aside in current funding for the purpose and a US team had been sent to Pakistan to make an on-spot study so that assistance could be funnelled in the right programmes.
He indicated that NGOs would have a role to play in this and they would receive financial assistance from Washington in support of their efforts to spread education and raise the level of literacy. "Education is of fundamental importance," he said.
Inderfurth expressed satisfaction with the state of Pak-US relations and referred to the recent agreement between Pakistan and the IMF as well as the forthcoming meeting of the Paris Club. He said that the best antidote to extremism was economic reform. He recalled that during his Pakistan visit, President Clinton had told General Pervez Musharraf that the United States supported his economic revival programme.
Among the "specific accomplishments" of the Clinton administration, he listed the settlement of the outstanding F-16 dispute with Pakistan and the payment to Pakistan of the outstanding amount from the aborted aircraft deal in the form of food. He called the detonation of nuclear bombs in 1998 by India and Pakistan and the Kargil conflict as "disappointments".
Asked about his successor, he said that he was in no position to answer the question but, if asked by the incoming administration, he would express his opinion. During questioning, the name of Shirin Tahirkheli was mentioned more than once, mostly by Indian correspondents who have been filing unhelpful stories about her to their newspapers, emphasising her Pakistani origins.
Inderfurth was confident that his successor would be a person best suited for the job that he called exciting. He said that in all his years at the State Department, he might have had days when the news was bad but he had never had a bad day. He called South Asia a fascinating area.
Inderfurth expressed great admiration for the new Republican Secretary of State, General Colin Powell to whom he had provided a two-hour briefing on South Asia last week. He said that the General had come without aides, had asked a lot of questions and taken copious notes. He called it a "good session".
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