Democratic Pakistan in US interest

A democratic Pakistan would be in the interest of the United States, said US foreign policy expert Walter Russell Mead.

Lahore, Aug 25 : A democratic Pakistan would be in the interest of the United States, said US foreign policy expert Walter Russell Mead.

Mead speaking on the 'US Foreign Policy towards Pakistan Before and After 9/11' at the Punjab University's Pakistan Study Centre said that a military government in Pakistan was not good for the US.

Commenting on whether Pakistan was insignificant for the US in the region as compared to other countries, he said, "Yes and no. Pakistan is not bigger than India and Japan, and perhaps can't be."

Speaking on the role of the US in Pakistan, Mead said: "It was not the US coming to Pakistan, but Pakistan calling the US. You have been calling us on telephone and do not blame us for answering your calls."

Being a supporter of democracy, the US has always opened its door to everyone, he added.

Mead said Pakistan sought US help because the country needed it since it was smaller than its neighbour.

He said Pakistan had a critical role for balancing power in the rising Asia and therefore, it would continue enjoying attention from the US.

The Daily Times quoted Mead as saying that Americans started thinking about Islam after 9/11.

"Islam is being read and discussed among Americans now," he said, adding that they did not see Osama Bin Laden as a leader of Islam.

Mead said Muslims were not the problem in the war on terror, but they were the solution, and negated the theory of clash of civilisations.

ANI