March 1, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 27, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The US Assistant Secretary of State, Christina Rocca conveyed to Pakistan’s top leadership on Friday that Washington believed that its war against Iraq would be “quick and short”, Dawn learnt through reliable sources.

Ms Rocca voiced this belief of the American administration while soliciting Pakistan’s support for a second US resolution authorizing military attack on Iraq.

The sources said during the meeting with Pakistani leaders, Ms Rocca was informed that Islamabad was unlikely to vote in favour of a resolution calling for an attack against Iraq.

Pakistan indicated to Ms Rocca that because of domestic pressure against military attack on Iraq and Pakistan’s standing in the Muslim world, Islamabad would not be able to support the US resolution. Most likely Pakistan would abstain if the resolution were put to vote, officials said.

During her talks with key government officials here Ms Rocca expressed Washington’s confidence in the post-war political setup in Iraq, saying the new setup would have the support of the Iraqi people and other regimes in the region. She also maintained that a post-Saddam Iraq would help US to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Palestinian problem.

During her two-day visit to Islamabad, Ms Rocca presented the US point of view on the need for UN Security Council members to support a second US resolution on Iraq.

A senior official who was present during the US official’s talks with the government, said: “Ms Rocca clearly stated her government’s desire that Pakistan supports the proposed resolution”. She did not offer Pakistan anything in return nor did she indicate that the “US administration will be looking towards ways of twisting our arm” if Pakistan chooses to stay on the sidelines.