Search the Internet          Tips

US warns of difficulties if MMA
forms government in Pakistan

The United States has communicated its difficulties to the Musharraf government in establishing a smooth working relationship with Pakistan if Muttahida Majlis Amal -- an umbrella alliance of religious parties -- takes power in Islamabad.

The Bush administration conveyed this message to the Musharraf government through its special emissary -- Director, Policy Planning, US State Department, Richard Haass -- who visited Islamabad early in November.

A similar message was also conveyed to self-exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose Pakistan Peoples Party -- Parliamentarians has opened negotiations with the MMA to form the government.

This led Bhutto to airdash to Washington from London to start fresh negotiations with senior US officials.

Around the same time, she, instructed her political aides in Islamabad to slow down their negotiations with the MMA.

The MMA has nominated the pro-Taliban hardline religious cleric Maulana Fazlur Rehman as its prime ministerial candidate.

"Instead, the US wants a coalition of PPP-P and Pakistan Muslim League-Q to come to power in Pakistan," The Nation newspaper said on Monday.

In case a deal is worked out between the military government and the PPP-P, Washington would give its "nod" to PPP-P leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim as the prime minister. Of course, Musharraf would continue to be in the saddle both as president and the chief of army staff, the newspaper said.

PTI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report