March, 12 2005	Saturday	1 Safar 1426

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WASHINGTON, March 11: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will nudge President Pervez Musharraf to restore democracy, but only if the issue came up for discussion during her visit to Pakistan next week.

Asked if Ms Rice would raise the issue of democracy with the Pakistani leader, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said: “I can’t predict what subjects are going to come up and what subjects are not going to come up.”

The issue of democracy in Pakistan was highlighted at the Thursday afternoon briefing when a reporter asked if Ms Rice will urge Gen Musharraf to give up his army post when she meets him in Islamabad next week.

The answer reflects the Bush administration’s reluctance in pushing for a political change in Pakistan at this stage despite its public commitment to promoting democracy elsewhere in the Islamic world.

“If the subject comes up, we would reiterate our long- standing policy, which is that movement toward democracy is to be encouraged, is to be welcomed,” said Mr Ereli. “And that we want to help support Pakistan as it takes the steps to answer the people’s call.”

The United States, he said, believed that President Musharraf was already committed to restoring democracy to his country and “has taken and is taking steps to move in the right direction. And we will encourage him to continue in that vein”.

The spokesman sidestepped questions that the Bush administration was not taking an aggressive stand against Pakistan despite its much publicized pledge to push for democracy and freedom as a key priority in its second term.

“I think President Musharraf has spoken to this issue, has indicated the direction he’s moving in and, frankly, the general direction is toward democratic change and shaping Pakistani institutions to reflect that tendency, including what uniforms he wears or doesn’t wear,” Mr Ereli said.

When a reporter suggested that Gen Musharraf had gone back on his word on giving up his army post and he might need prodding from the United States, Mr Ereli said: “I wouldn’t put it that way.”

When another reporter asked if Ms Rice’s talks with Gen Musharraf could focus on the issue of democracy, the State Department official said the discussions would focus on the global war on terror.

When the reporter insisted to know if Ms Rice could also emphasize the need for Gen Musharraf to quit the army and rule his country as a civilian head of state, Mr Ereli said: “I’m not going to preview those discussions.”