Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: “The United States supported Pakistan’s flourishing democracy and believed it on solid basis for the stability and prosperity in the country,” US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale said in an interview with a private TV channel on Thursday.

He said, “I cannot speak about the past but now we do believe in Pakistan’s democracy.” Replying to a question whether US fully supported democracy in Pakistan he said, “Yes we do.” To another question as if the US could support those who wanted to derail democracy in Pakistan, the ambassador categorically stated, “No. Not at all.”

He said that he was a newcomer in Pakistan and was learning every day since his arrival. He said, “I am impressed how lively the politics are here in this country. We saw a peaceful transition from one elected government to another (in Pakistan).” He said that also he expects the next elections in Pakistan to be held in 2018.

To a question about the Pak-India relations he said that the US encourages both the countries to engage and resolve their issues through dialogue. Talking about the human rights violations in the Indian-held Kashmir, he said, “The US was concerned over the loss of lives there and believed that Pakistan and India could resolves their differences through dialogue.”

To a question about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said that the US welcomed the project and was supportive of any effort that brought about economic growth and development in Pakistan. About his view on Pak-Iran gas pipeline project after the lifting of international sanctions against Iran, he said, “We do not oppose the pipeline project in anyway.”

He also said that Pakistan was a rich and multi-dimensional country. He said that he had visited Karachi four times and Lahore and Peshawar twice each. He said that Karachi was a vibrant city and mentioned his recent visit to the city particularly to Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and his interaction with the businessmen there. He also expressed his likeness about the Pakistani fruits specifically mangoes and expressed eagerness to learn Urdu.

Before coming to Pakistan, Hale has served in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and some Middle Eastern states can speak Arabic well. Talking about the statement of US Senator John McCain in his article about strain in Pak-US ties, the ambassador said that he respected the senator’s views as he was the longest serving senator and knew Pakistan well.

He added that the Pak-US relationship was enduring, strong, broad and multi-dimensional. To a question about McCain’s view on the extension in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, he said that he was out of the country during the Senator’s visit and that he (ambassador) could not speak on such issues.

To another question on the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, he said that the issue was not about the sale of the aircraft to Pakistan but the subsidy on the sale. The US concern was regarding the presence of the safe havens of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan, he added.

He said that the US had been extending support to the Pakistani military in different forms and the sacrifices by the Pakistan’s military personnel were extraordinary. To a question about the drone attacks and the civilian casualties as a result of them, and in particular the drone attack in Noshki that killed the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akthar Mansour and a civilian taxi driver, he said thatthe target was the one who had killed various innocent people in callous attacks in Afghanistan. He (Mullah Mansour) was also against peace negotiations, the ambassador added.

He said that Pakistan was progressing in multiple fields including its growing economy as well as strengthening democracy. He added that he was encouraged about the strong Pak-US security partnership. He welcomed the mechanism agreed between Pakistan and Afghanistan on border management.

Answering a question, he said that the US also conducted its own operation against militants like the one in Afghanistan against the mastermind of Army Public School Peshawar attack. He said that it was a great success. He said that there was a consensus that a political solution would be the best to bring peace in Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s commitment for peace dialogue in the country was impressive.

“But the problem is that the Taliban do not take interest and there is a need to persuade them to renounce violence, end support to other militant organisations and join the peace process for a political solution,” he added.

Replying to a question, he said that US viewpoint on the nuclear weapons was in global perspective, adding that the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group was very specific and they had a criterion for membership and the matter was decided on merit. “However, the US has concerns about tactical weapons for being higher chances of their misuse or being stolen for being in small size,” he said.