May 06, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1429

WASHINGTON, May 5: US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said on Monday that the United States supported Pakistan’s effort to seek a negotiated settlement to the problem of terrorism in the tribal area but it did not want the territory to be used for carrying out attacks on US and Nato troops.

Addressing a seminar on democracy and security in Pakistan, Mr Negroponte said the United States would “wait for the results” of these talks before passing any judgment on the process.

The United States, he said, has long-term strategic relations with Pakistan and will continue to cooperate with the country in its fight against terrorism.

He said the US supported the talk process but will be concerned if terrorists operate freely in the tribal area.

Mr Negroponte said that the US does not have a position on the judges’ issue and will accept whatever decision is taken in Pakistan.

He disagreed with the suggestion that on the one hand the US favours democracy and on the other it supports a former general in Pakistan.

The US official recalled that President Musharraf ended emergency, took off uniform and held elections. Now it was up to the Pakistanis to decide a future role for President Musharraf, he added.

Asked if the US would support the demand for ending Article 58-(2) b, which allows the president to dissolve parliament and undo the entire political set-up, Mr Negroponte said it was a difficult question for him to answer. Such issues, he said, need to be decided by the Pakistanis through a political process.

“Will you consider this forum to send a strong message to President Musharraf that you will not accept undoing of the current parliament?” Mr Negroponte was asked.

“Well, my answer to that would be: Look, I think the country of Pakistan took a very important step with the elections of February 18th,” he said.

“Our secretary of state has certified to the Congress that the restrictions that had been placed on our assistance to Pakistan previously could now be lifted because these democratic elections have taken place. I think that Pakistan is on a very positive path at the moment. “But I think it would be inappropriate and imprudent for me to try to answer the kind of hypothetical question you should raise.”