US wants a democratic Pakistan: American scholar

Both Democrats and Republicans want a democratic and stable Pakistan, said Walter Russell Mead, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Islamabad, Aug 30 : Both Democrats and Republicans want a democratic and stable Pakistan, said Walter Russell Mead, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mead told reporters that the US appreciated the feelings of Pakistani society, and their desire for a constitutional government, independence of judiciary, rule of law, fundamental rights and free and fair elections.

He said the US Government was not in the business of favouring any party, nor did it approve the plan to impose an emergency in Pakistan.

Mead said Washington would like to see leading political parties freely contest the forthcoming polls in Pakistan.

He said Asia was a huge continent and thus could not be dominated by any world power.

Mead said China, Pakistan, India and Indonesia were growing in every aspect in Asia. "

The US wants a stable and prosperous Asia," the Daily Times quoted Mead, as saying.

He denied that the US was working against the interests of the Islamic world.

Mead said Islam was a religion of peace, that there was nothing wrong with the Muslims.

"Americans are gradually learning about Islam and listening to Muslims," he said, while adding that Osama bin Laden had "a different brand of Islam" which distorted the true image of Muslims.

ANI