August 26, 2007	Sunday	Sha’aban 12, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 25: Henry Kissinger senior fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Council of Foreign Relations Walter Russel Mead says America wants a stable and democratic Pakistan with rule of law.

Speaking on ‘Pakistan and US foreign policy’ at a roundtable discussion organised by the United Citizens Forum here on Saturday evening, the visiting scholar said America preferred to have a democratic government in Pakistan than a military regime. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had clearly stated that the US supported the democratic process of return to civilian rule in Pakistan.

He said Pakistan could occupy a larger and more fundamental place in US foreign policy by increasing cooperation against terrorism.

He said the US foreign policy was focused on Europe during the colonial period and cold war because of being the largest market. A fundamental change crystallised in US foreign policy on 9/11 when the centre of gravity shifted to terrorism and Asia.

He said the US considered its departure from Afghanistan after the collapse of Soviet Union a mistake which it would not commit again. He said Muslims were angry with the US but were supporting its war against terrorism and rejecting Al-Qaeda. He said no country in the world had given more aid to Palestine than the US.

He said the impression that the Bush administration was supported by the Jews was wrong. They supported democrats 85 per cent of whom hated George Bush.

United Citizens Forum chairperson Syeda Abida Husain and PPP senator Latif Khosa said the US should review its policy of supporting military regimes in Islamic countries.