LAHORE, March 7: Other countries, including the United States, can help end confrontation between Pakistan and India, US Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin said on Thursday.

She was speaking at a meeting of the English Speaking Union.

The envoy said that it was for the people of the two countries to determine whether they wanted cooperation or confrontation. “These are the options. The right choice is self evident.” As far as the US was concerned, she said, it had good relations with both.

Referring to the US-Pakistan relations in the aftermath of the Afghan war and President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the United States, economic developments and geo-strategic concerns in South Asia she said that the two countries were “on the same side when it comes to the great issues facing not only the US and Pakistan, but the wider world. We have much to contribute and our relationship can be an example, a model for others.”

She emphasized that as far as the US was concerned there was no clash of civilizations. “I do not believe in it at all.” The US and Pakistan could together demonstrate that two civilizations with different histories, different beliefs, different customs were not doomed to clash or confront each another. They can show the world that two civilizations were partners, not protagonists and that “our people do not ridicule one another’s beliefs but respect them. Rather than face each other across imaginary dividing lines, we should build a bridge on the foundation of our most enduring beliefs, however expressed in whatever house of worship.”

The ambassador said that frustrating and difficult times in US-Pakistan relations were over and now they were working together as friends. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda no longer presented the same magnitude of threat to international security nor were they any threat to Pakistan. The struggle was not over but the terrorists were on the run.

She said that US had lifted most of the sanctions and the last impediments could also be removed.

Referring to the political situation and the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan the US ambassador hoped that a new form of political leadership would emerged with stronger institutions. She said that democracy was more than elections. It was about free speech, popular participation in community affairs and freedom of worship. For real democracy, she said the press must be free.

Earlier, in a brief speech, the English Speaking Union president, Gen Wajahat Husain Syed (retired), welcomed the ambassador.