US not behind Dr Qadri, says top diplomat

ISLAMABAD: A top US diplomat denied on Saturday that the US was behind Dr Tahirul Qadri or backing him and said Washington did not support any individual or political party but only supported free and fair elections in Pakistan.

The US Deputy Chief of Mission in Pakistan, Richard Hoagland, was asked by reporters to comment on the perception in Pakistan that US was backing Dr Tahirul Qadri’s march for ousting the incumbent regime.

Hoagland said that Washington did not support any individual or political party so he wanted to explain that Washington was not backing him. “Our goal is to support free and fair elections in Pakistan,” he added.

On other subjects, he said the US and Pakistan were not satisfied with the mechanism for reimbursing bills under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and discussions were under way to put in place new arrangement to continue their joint efforts in the war against terrorism.

“Neither side was satisfied over the reimbursement mechanism of CSF funding owing to its inefficiency so we are working together to find ways for placing new arrangement but it will be premature to discuss its shape at this stage,” he said.

To another query about the launching of a military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in the aftermath of the killing of senior minister of KP Bashir Bilour he replied that it should be the decision of the government and the army to move ahead.

Asked about the killing of Mullah Nazeer, he said that both Pakistan and the US would have to work together to continue the fight against terrorism and extremism.

Regarding the Green Book issued by the army for waging war against internal threats, he said that it was not appropriate for him to comment on it but added that the US was committed to continue the joint efforts against terrorism.

Earlier, he gave a keynote address at the International Business Plan Competition finals organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in Islamabad.

APP adds: Hoagland reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to foster entrepreneurship and supporting individual entrepreneurs throughout Pakistan.

“Entrepreneurship is vital to Pakistan’s future, and we are here to support you,” he said.

During his address, Ambassador Hoagland highlighted a series of initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and generate economic growth in Pakistan. The programme has been called Khushhali Ka Safar (A Journey to Prosperity) which provides support to innovative Pakistani entrepreneurs by connecting them with American investors, particularly from the Pakistani diaspora in the US.

“Although the promotion of entrepreneurship is not traditional diplomacy, it is an increasingly important plank of US foreign policy across the world, and we strongly believe that it can make a difference in people’s lives,” said Ambassador Hoagland.

Hoagland said that a US programme, the Pakistan Firms Project, helps to increase the profitability and incomes of small and medium-sized enterprises in vulnerable areas, by identifying and removing constraints to private-sector job growth in key areas such as agriculture, livestock, minerals, and tourism.

SANA adds: While talking to newsmen Hoagland said that the US favours a transparent political system across the globe. He stressed that the US has never supported individuals or any political party. The US wants to see peace and prosperity in Pakistan, he added.

“The US administration doesn’t bet on individuals or political parties and Qadri is not an exception at all,” he said.

“Washington will never leave Islamabad alone in the war on terror. We will see our ally through till the end. We wish a stable and stronger Pakistan no matter what,” he said.

Online adds: Hoagland said that Pakistan and the US are feeling the threat of terrorism and through mutual cooperation they would bring an end to this threat.

He also expressed his condolence with the family of Senior Minister Bashir Bilour and said that terrorism is a common enemy of Pakistan and the US.

Online further adds: Meanwhile the UK High Commission in Pakistan has rejected the impression that it was backing Dr Tahirul Qadri, the chief of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI), apparently in response to the growing concerns that the international community was lobbying for the emerging political and religious figure in Pakistan.

The statement stated, “We do not support Dr Tahirul Qadri and will not interfere in any internal matter of Pakistan.”

The statement further said that it was the prerogative of Pakistani people to elect their representatives. “We do not want political instability in Pakistan; we will continue to support parliamentary democracy in the country”, it said.

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