July 9, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 8,1424

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WASHINGTON, July 8: There is a real concern in the US administration that the MMA-government conflict could lead to an increase in religious fervour in Pakistan.

The administration, diplomatic sources say, is particularly worried about the steps taken by the MMA-led government in the NWFP. “What’s going on in the NWFP harkens back to the things that make people nervous in the United States,” said a senior diplomat while commenting on the MMA’s Islamization campaign in the Frontier.

“The Americans hope that the Talibanization of Pakistan does not happen. They cannot envision a Talibanized Pakistan,” the diplomat added.

The Americans, however, also realize that if the prevailing conditions lead to a political victory for the religious forces in Pakistan, there is little that they can do to stop it. That is why they want to help the country stabilize its economy. “But instead of offering them a new package of assistance every year, the Americans are urging Pakistanis to use the current package to jump start their economy, so that they do not have to depend on outside support so heavily,” said the diplomat.

The Americans do not appear to believe that the Musharraf government or the ISI formed the MMA or encouraged it to win the October elections. “They do not see it as an intended consequence of the policies of the Musharraf government,” said the diplomat.

“Their general consensus is that Gen Musharraf controls the military, including the ISI.”

The sources said that the Americans also do not see the Musharraf government or the ISI as directly encouraging the followers of the Taliban, Al Qaeda or rebel Afghan leader Gulbadin Hekmatyar despite a sudden increase in their activities during the last few weeks.

“Former ISI or people connected with the agency, maybe, but the ISI is not directly involved,” said the diplomat.

Diplomatic circles in Washington agree that the Americans trust Gen Musharraf and respect him as “a worthy ally,” as one of them said. “When you talk to the Americans, you often hear that the general has come through for them every time they have asked him to do something. He has been forthcoming and helpful, often at risk to himself. There have been several attempts on his life,” the diplomat said.

The Americans also realize that his decision to support Washington may have hurt Gen Musharraf’s political position at home and appear willing to help him out, the sources said.

On the other hand, the Americans still appear unwilling to trust secular political forces such as the PPP and PML-N. “When talking about these parties, US officials often say that both got two chances each but they failed to deliver,” said the diplomat.

At the same time, US officials point out that their relations with Pakistan are not tied to an individual or a group of people. “They really are looking for a long-term, broad-based relationship,” said the diplomat.

They also realize that many in Pakistan find it difficult to believe that Washington is interested in building a long-term relationship with Pakistan. “We are going to put our money where our mouth is and it is Pakistan,” the diplomat quoted a senior US official as saying while explaining Washington’s new policy towards Islamabad.

“There are only three other countries that are getting more aid than Pakistan: Israel, Egypt and Columbia, Israel and Egypt are mandated by US law while the aid to Columbia is going down,” the diplomat said.

US officials also play down the Bush administration’s decision to turn down Pakistan’s request for F-16 aircraft. They point out that half of the aid package — $1.5 billion — can be used for defence purposes and it is up to Pakistan to decide what it wants. “If it decides to buy conventional weapons, the Americans are ready to help,” the diplomat added.