WASHINGTON, Sept 5: US scholars and government officials have underlined the need for a democratic Pakistan because of the country’s ethnic adversity.

Speaking on the “future of sustainable democracy in Pakistan” at the Brookings Institute, Washington — and later at a discussion in Columbia, Maryland — prominent American scholars and government officials also said the pro-Indian tilt in US policy was irreversible.

William Milam, former US ambassador in Islamabad, said Pakistan had a hybrid government with an elected civilian partner and the military as the superior partner.

He said that during the last two years, President Musharraf had introduced “some dubious constitutional reforms” and was trying to justify these amendments in the name of a referendum “which was also dubious”.

“The military’s unwillingness to let the civilians make national security decisions stems from a fear of India,” said Mr Milam. The military had also entered into an alliance with the Islamists for its own objectives.

“The real question is not the future of sustainable democracy in Pakistan but the future of Pakistan without sustainable democracy,” he said.

Michelle Sisson, deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia, defended President Musharraf’s reforms for strengthening local bodies as a step in the right direction because, she said, “building democracy at this level will take Pakistan to sustainable democracy”.

She said she was aware that no elected government had been able to complete its tenure in Pakistan. “Corruption is a fact of life. So is feudalism but Pakistan does need a sustainable democracy.”

Teresita Schaffer, former US ambassador to Sri Lanka and now director of the South Asia programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, said the military took over the government in Pakistan because politicians had messed up things.

“Unfortunately, autocracy has not worked either. Pakistan has learned that an autocratic government is not the answer,” she added.

Pakistan needs democracy, said Ms Schaffer, also because of its ethnic and religious diversity. In autocracy, she said, smaller ethnic and religious groups feel isolated, which increases their bitterness.

Prof Stephen Cohen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, said the situation in Pakistan forces US policymakers to worry “if they have put their money in the right place”.

He said although he favours a long-term US engagement with the country, “Pakistan today is the most anti-American country in the world”.

Dr Nisar A. Chaudhry, President of the Pakistan American League, disagreed with Mr Cohen and said that although anti- American feelings exist, “they can be removed with a long-term and positive engagement”.