WASHINGTON, April 21: The US on Friday dispelled the impression created by some media reports that it wanted a change of government in Pakistan, saying that while the Bush administration supported the move towards democracy, it was not distancing itself from President Pervez Musharraf.

Media outlets in India and Pakistan on Thursday published a report by a US news and analysis service called Stratfor saying that the Bush administration no longer needs the current Pakistan government’s support in the fight against terrorism and that’s why it was ‘imagining a Pakistan without Gen Musharraf.’

In an exclusive interview to Dawn, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, who returned last week from a visit to India, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries, denied any change in Washington’s policy towards the Musharraf government. “Frankly, I don’t know why people would say that,” he said when asked to comment on media reports predicting such a change. “Fundamental to (US) policy (towards that region) is what President Musharraf calls enlightened moderation.”

He said these were the kind of things that the US wanted to support and as President Musharraf achieves those objectives, Pakistan’s role in the region and its own development prospers. Part of the US goal for Pakistan, he said, was to support the modern education system, create economic opportunities for the Pakistani nation and for individuals and to support the programme President Musharraf has laid down for free and fair elections next year.

“This whole direction he has set is the one we are working with him any way. There is no contradiction in our support for democracy and in the goals he has set for himself. President Musharraf and President Bush said so in their joint statement in Islamabad as well.”

Asked perhaps those who talk about a change in US attitude towards the Musharraf government say so because they think it’s time for a change in Pakistan, Mr Boucher said: “That is a wild remark, a very political stance. I understand there’s going to be politics, and going to be a political debate. But the goals President Musharraf has set are very compatible (with US objectives) and we want to help him achieve those goals.”

Asked if during his meetings in Pakistan he sought an assurance from Islamabad that President Musharraf will quit the military before the 2007 elections, Mr Boucher said: “President Musharraf says he will address this issue as he moves towards democracy. You heard from him that he will address the issue of his status in the context of the elections next year.”

Responding to a question on how the US could justify championing the cause of democracy elsewhere while supporting a military ruler in Pakistan, the US diplomat said: “Our goal is to support the movement towards democracy and not to focus on any single issue.”

He said he met the chief election commissioner during his recent visit to Islamabad because election commissions were “very key elements in having free and fair election and it’s a goal we support.”

Mr Boucher said that while in Islamabad he saw those who are in the government and those who are not because “political parties are central part of having free and fair elections.”

He agreed with the suggestions that his meetings with these people send the signal that the US was distancing itself from President Musharraf. “No, that’s not a signal we are sending. The signal we are sending is that how broad our interests are in Pakistan. These include interests in the strategic, educational and economic situation there. And how much we support the overall strategic goals set by President Musharraf.”