WASHINGTON, Sept 30: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said on Monday that her party could work out a compromise formula for providing indemnity to President Pervez Musharraf, but in return he should also offer indemnity to others.

Ms Bhutto said the PPP could offer unconditional support to the government on certain issues, such as the joint electorate, women seats in parliament, and devolution of power. On other issues, such as the LFO, the PPP can offer conditional support, she added.

Ms Bhutto, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali reached the United States for a week-long tour, said she respected Mr Jamali as “a decent politician” but would not add to his problems by wanting to meet him.

Her denial, however, did not quash rumours that the two leaders may meet during Mr Jamali’s visit and discuss the possibility of reducing political tensions in Pakistan.

Throughout her long conversation with a group of Pakistani journalists in a Washington suburb, Ms Bhutto maintained a conciliatory tone towards the government, both military and civilian. Even when she spoke about the “excesses” committed against her and her family, she did not betray any bitterness.

The former prime minister also supported President Musharraf’s Iraq policy and said that Pakistan should contribute troops to an international peace force for Baghdad “if it goes with an international stamp, such as a mandate from the United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council or the OIC.”

“Our government sent troops to Bosnia and Haiti. Then why not to Iraq? We believe that participating in international peace operations improves Pakistan’s image and increases the prestige of our troops,” she said.

Ms Bhutto, however, said she had not yet thought about another proposal being discussed between Pakistan and the United States that Islamabad should send its troops if requested by the Iraqi governing council, with or without a UN mandate. “No, I have not thought about it,” she said when asked to comment on the proposal.

While explaining her domestic policies, Ms Bhutto maintained a careful distance from the views of some of her political allies on issues like religion and terrorism.

“We have an alliance with the MMA inside parliament. Outside we differ on several issues. They support the Taliban. We believe Pakistan should strengthen the Karzai government. We also differ with their views on women and with the ministry for vice and virtue they are setting up (in the NWFP). We also oppose their demand for a separate electorate for religious minorities.”

When a reporter suggested that her views on these issues were almost identical to those of the Musharraf government, which make them natural allies, not enemies, she said: “Yes, what the general sahib says is also there in the PPP’s manifesto. But we don’t know whether the general sahib means what he says. We don’t know if he is really a dove or a hawk. If he means what he says then why hate the PPP so strongly?”

She said Pakistan’s previous policy of seeking strategic depth in Afghanistan was proven wrong and “now we should try to strengthen the Karzai government.”