US hopes to join hands with new Govt, Musharraf

WASHINGTON—The United States said Thursday it looks forward to working with President Pervez Musharraf and the next Pakistani government that emerges from parliamentary election held earlier this week. “He (Musharraf) ‘s the President of Pakistan and I would expect that we are going to work with him and whatever - and that we would hope to work with whatever government emerges as a result of this election,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at the daily briefing.
The US, he said, encourages all moderate political forces to work together on course to democratization and economic prosperity, saying they face the common challenge of violent extremism. “We would encourage all the moderate political parties and those with a similar or shared vision of a Pakistan that is on the course to greater democratization, broadened democratization, deeper democratization, greater prosperity, to work together. They have a common strategic vision. They also have a common enemy. And that common enemy are violent extremists, terrorists, who seek to undermine the progress that Pakistan has made in the past six years - past seven years.”
During the talks that lasted more than 20 minutes, both leaders discussed regional, international issues and war against terrorism, Foreign Office Spokesman M. Sadiq said. The US President hoped that the elections would bring democratic and Political stability in Pakistan, which would be help in fighting war against terrorism. He said we support President Musharraf’s policies and he has been a close and helpful ally in the war against terrorism.
President Bush thanked President Pervez Musharraf for the smooth conduct of the elections by urging winning parties to work with him (Musharraf). US President appreciated the fact that Musharraf has done exactly that which he said he was going to do. President Musharraf thanked US President over telephone call and assured him that he would like to function “with any party and any coalition because that is in the interest of Pakistan.
Meanwhile White House press secretary Dana Perino also confirmed the call but would not reveal what the two leaders discussed. She said President Bush has supported Musharraf all along because he “helped Pakistan on its path to democracy” and has been a good partner in the war against terrorists. She says it is “up to the Pakistani people to decide whether Musharraf retains his position.
President Bush telephoned President Pervez Musharraf following his party’s loss in parliamentary elections, but the White House said Thursday that it’s up to the Pakistani people to decide the embattled leader’s political future. “It’s now time for the newly elected folks to show up and form their government,” Bush said on Wednesday during a press conference in Ghana that occurred after the phone call. “The question now is, `Will they be friends of the United States?’ I hope so.”
In his remarks during his five-nation trip of Africa, Bush did not mention that he had talked with Musharraf on the phone following his party’s sweeping defeat in the elections. Talking with reporters aboard Air Force One before it landed in Liberia on Thursday, White House press secretary Dana Perino would not reveal what the two leaders discussed. She said Bush has supported Musharraf all along because he “helped Pakistan on its path to democracy” and has been a good partner in the war against terrorists. Perino said it is “up to the Pakistani people to decide” whether Musharraf retains his position.
Given Musharraf’s uncertain political future, Bush is looking to Pakistan’s emerging new leaders for help in pressing the fight against terrorism. Discussing Monday’s vote in Pakistan, Bush said on Wednesday that the elections were “part of the victory in the war on terror.” Opposition parties won enough seats to form a new government, but were expected to fall short of the numbers needed to impeach Musharraf as president.—Agencies