US closely watching political development
Foreign Desk Report

WASHINGTON—The United States on Monday voiced the hope for continued good relations with Pakistan as it closely watched the latest political developments in the South Asian country. “Obviously we’ve had good relations with Pakistan in the past several years, we fully expect that to continue but we are not going to comment on what they should or should not do as they work through their process,” White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said.
Her comments came as the two largest political parties in the new parliament- PPPP and PML(N)- agreed over the weekend to form a coalition government following February 18 parliamentary polls. The US, Perino said, obviously watches “the situation with interest but I will tell you that this is the Pakistanis working through their democratic process.”
Meanwhile, at the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack, responding to a question about the resolve by two coalition parties to restore the judiciary as it existed before November 3, 2007, said this is a question for Pakistani political system to resolve. “This is a question for Pakistani political system to resolve among the actors involved in that system, it should be resolved within the context of Pakistani laws and Pakistani constitution.”
The US, he said “looks forward to working with whatever government is eventually formed, and we look forward to working with all members of any Pakistani government on the issues of mutual concern, and continue to pursue our national interests with respect to Pakistan and a big part of that involves the fight against terrorism.” Responding to another question on the coalition’s stand on the restoration of judiciary McCormack said:
“It is not for us to oppose or to support, it is a decision solely for the Pakistani people and those political leaders in the political process to decide, not for us to comment in one way or the other.” The White House said Monday it was closely watching Pakistan’s political wrangling but declined to comment except to say that it hoped for continued “good relations.”
“We obviously watch the situation with interest but I will tell you that this is the Pakistanis working through their democratic process,” spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters. “Obviously we’ve had good relations with Pakistan in the past several years, we fully expect that to continue but we are not going to comment on what they should or should not do as they work through their process,” she said.
She spoke after Pakistan’s main opposition parties agreed to form a coalition and restore judges who could threaten President Pervez Musharraf’s grip on power, while one of his allies said Musharraf had no plans to quit.