Democracy and stability go hand in hand: McCormack

The US State Department has said that conflicts between the Parliament and the office of the President are an integral part of a democratic system and would create balance within the system.

Washington, Mar 13 : The US State Department has said that conflicts between the Parliament and the office of the President are an integral part of a democratic system and would create balance within the system.

"In any democratic political system, there are going to be tensions. That's the way political systems are set up. Usually, there is a balance of power," The Dawn quoted the Department's spokesperson Sean McCormack, as saying.

He was commenting on President Pervez Musharraf's interview to a US daily, where he had warned that a confrontation between the Parliament and office of the President would prove fatal for the country as well as the world.

"Now how those questions are decided, in terms of what the outcomes to the questions are, those are going to be entirely up to the Pakistani people and Pakistan's political leaders," McCormack added.

He also indicated that the United States would like to continue its relations Pakistan and it would also be interested to help Pakistan develop a democratic culture in the country.

"We think stability and democracy go hand in hand," McCormack said when asked to comment on an article by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

"We believe that it is vitally important that the Pakistani people have faith in their governing institutions as well as their Government and their political processes. That is going to be something that is a bulwark against violent extremists and terrorists," McCormack said.

He said the US Embassy in Islamabad is in regular contact with the Pakistani politicians since the elections.

"There are a number of issues of common interest here. And certainly, one of the areas that we will focus on is the continuing fight against terrorism, our counter-terrorism efforts," said McCormack.

While commenting on the twin blasts in Lahore on Wednesday, he said that the strategy for tackling terrorists would have to include military operations and economic and political reforms.

"There's a certain core element that you're going to have to deal with -- with security services and security means," he said.

"But ... some of the most important efforts are going to be made in broadening and deepening political and economic reforms so that you have more of the Pakistani population bought into the political process, more of the Pakistani people that have a stake in the Pakistani economy," McCormack said.

"That ultimately is going to provide your best guarantee against the spread of terrorism and violent extremism," he added.

McCormack said the US would continue to work with the new Pakistani Government.

ANI