United States has praised Pakistani government's decision to reinstate the Chief Justice and said more needs to be done to restore political stability in the country.
"These decisions were good steps that were taken, but clearly more has to be done in terms of getting a real substantive political dialogue back on track in Pakistan," State Department Spokesman Robert Wood told media persons on Monday.
However, he did not elaborate what more Pak leadership needs to do now.
Wood was responding to the questions related to the announcements made by Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, reinstating the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan and filing a review petition against the court order that barred Sharif brothers from holding any public office.
"It was a very difficult weekend. It was very politically charged. We're all aware of that. But the important thing is that these steps were taken; the justices were reinstated," he said.
He added "the important thing now is to move forward, bringing about further reconciliation amongst Pakistanis and getting back to a real, substantive political dialogue".
State Department spokesman said, "So this was basically decisions made by Pakistanis for Pakistanis. They deserve all the credit."
Wood said the US has insisted upon Pakistani leadership on the need to have political dialogue and reconciliation. Peaceful assembly is important.
"We want to see that happen. But in the end, these were decisions that were taken by the Pakistani leadership, and I think it's important to recognise that. And only the Pakistanis could bring themselves back from the brink. This is not anything the United States could have done," Wood said.
'No arm-twisting by Clinton'
Ruling out any arm-twisting to Pakistani leaders to put their house in order, US officials are insisting that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered them friendly advice to resolve their differences through dialogue and non-violent means during her telephonic talks.
Clinton had called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday in a last minute US effort to save the country from the brink of an imminent political turmoil.
However, it was speculated that Clinton told Zardari and Sharif that there was pressure on the Obama Administration from the US Congress and Congressional leaders that in the case of continued political turmoil, it would be difficult for the lawmakers to approve financial aid to Pakistan.
"I think, Secretary Clinton during her conversation (with the leaders) told them about the concerns being raised by many in the Congress about the situation in Pakistan and said that many of them may not be inclined to support further aid to the country," a US official, familiar with the conversation, said on condition of anonymity.
"That's reality. Secretary's friendly advice to Pakistanis was to take steps to control the situation," the official said.
