No more Raymonds in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pashas meeting with US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta to defuse tension between the two countries is a positive development and it will help resolve the row between the two intelligence agencies, asserted US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter in an exclusive interview with Nawa-i-Waqt, on Wednesday. The US Ambassador said that the tragic incident of Lahore had impacted the Pak-US ties, but the relations had not been damaged to a degree that they could not be repaired. When asked that a general perception in Pakistan was that a number of Raymond Davis were sauntering in the streets of Pakistan, Munter replied that there were no more Raymond Devis in Pakistan. To another question, the US Ambassador said that US was not involved in attacks on shrines in Pakistan. We are not trying to destabilise Pakistan, the ambassador claimed. Munter agreed that Pakistans concern about Indias role in Afghanistan were convincing, these and other concerns of Pakistan need to be addressed. When asked about Pak-US relations that have always been marred by mistrust and suspicions, the US envoy said that no two countries can claim to have trouble-free relations in this world. Even close allies at time can run into trouble. To another question, the US Ambassador asserted that US supported a corruption-free, transparent democratic system in Pakistan. Pakistan is not Egypt or Tunesia. Pakistan has democratic institutions, it has a vibrant and independent press. The future of democracy in Pakistan is very bright, the ambassador said. Acknowledging the role of Pakistan Army in the war against terror, Munter said, The Pak Army has rendered great sacrifices in the war against terror, the US will continue to support the Pakistan Army in its fight against militancy.