US says will continue to work closely with Zardari govt

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Wednesday it is working closely with the democratically elected Pakistani government led by President Asif Ali Zardari in wide-ranging areas of common interest and that American officials maintain contacts with the opposition parties in Pakistan just as they do in other countries.

The State Department also made it clear that Washington would continue to work with the current democratic government until Pakistan has a new government in due course of political process and as a result of elections in the mandated timeframe.

“There is a government in place. We are working with the government. There are opposition parties, we have regular contacts with opposition parties not only in Pakistan but also in all nations.

“We are in a good diplomatic relationship with Pakistan, we will continue to work with the government on the problems that it faces not only those of terrorism but also on institution building and on economics,” State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said when asked if Washington is looking more toward PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to work with.

The US officials, he added at the daily briefing, will have discussions with opposition parties and their members in order to review with the entire political leadership how they see that Pakistan moves forward.

In answer to another question, the spokesman said he would not analyse recent political developments but emphasised that the US would continue to work closely with the current democratically elected government. “We are right now working with a Pakistani government. And that, you know, as the political process moves forward till such time that Pakistan has new elections, there will be another government, that we would continue to try and maintain our good relationship with.”