- Former American official says US never try to interfere in Pakistan’s political affairs
Former US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher has said that the United States always wanted that Pakistan and India to resolve their problems through dialogues in a better way, as deteriorating relation between the two neighbours is the matter of concern for the whole world.
In an exclusive interview to the Online news agency, he said that although US wants good ties between Pakistan and India but it doesn’t mean that the US put itself in the middle. “US is trying to maintain good relations with both Pakistan and India simultaneously. This is right approach. But, America encourages progress, and bilateral talks, which is best option,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi did talk, which was right approach for bilateral relations, he said. “US is also encouraging that Islamabad and New Delhi to resolve their problems amicably and not waste time and energy in the confrontation,” he said.
On his earlier statement in 2007 that the Pakistan Army need reforms, Boucher said that: “We all need reforms, I really not kept up that what is going now in army and intelligence agencies and don’t want to say specifics.” He said that still there were some divisions in civilians and military in Pakistan. Everybody in the society needs to work on civilian-military relations that how they can work each-other and how they set common goals. Because, sometimes there is an impression that everybody not pushing in same direction
On Pakistan and US relations, he said that both the countries have always had rocky relationships as both have different interests. “Both Pakistan and the US have common interests too, like building successful and modern Pakistan. Other common interests are peace and stability in the region including Afghanistan and reducing Indo-Pakistan tension.” He said there were plenty of grounds for the improvements and dialogue to identify specific areas where both the sides would have to move forward.
On the question about India and some western countries including the US are against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, “I don’t think that it is true, certainly not from the US side. I don’t speak for the US government. But, all Americans from different agencies, backgrounds and think tanks saying that CPEC is good for Pakistan and the region.”
“I am sure this economic corridor would help to link people together and provide opportunities. It could also reduce loadshading of electricity. This is exclusive project in which only Pakistan and China are involved,” he said and suggested that it was also important to other countries, companies and investors to get involved in it.
On ‘failure’ of military option in Afghanistan, he said that the military option was the part of the solution in Afghanistan. The Afghan government should also become strong enough to control its territory and has the capability to maintain peace and security for its people, he said. At the same time, the Afghan government should have be capable for delivering justice, services, water, health, education and other facilities to its people.
Perhaps, the US put too much emphasis on military in Afghanistan, he said. On failure of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) and Russia’s new initiative on Afghanistan, he said, “I am little skeptical. Like Pakistan, the Afghan government should also try to build its own government capability, that’s most important for the stabilization. You have to have military and security capability to maintain the peace. Then you have to have support from your neighbours.”
On his perception regarding political leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and others, he said that Pakistani politics always remained interesting. “I don’t particularly supporting any one of them. It is right of people of Pakistan to decide either their politicians doing well or not,” he said.
On US interference in Pakistan’s political affairs, he said that he don’t think it was true. Perhaps some people did it in the entire history of the US-Pakistan relations. “When I was working in US administration, our efforts were to help Pakistan in dealing with terrorism and make transition from military to democracy,” he said. “Now, people of Pakistan have to decide whom they like in the next election,” he said.
He termed the decision of Iraq invasion in 2003 by then US president George W Bush was bad move. “Whatever you call it a mistake. It was not right decision, it was a bad decision with bad consequences too. It contributed to destabilisation in other areas. But, fundamental causes of the destabilising the region are too many decades long. People of Middle East to decide what kind of governments they have. But, fundamentally region was already was unstable and in the tensions,” he said.
On his current engagements, he said that since last few years, he is teaching diplomatic courses to young people having wonderful time. Now in Pakistan for ‘Track-II’ dialogues, discussions between experts and former officials, trying to identify some opportunities between Pakistan and the US.
