New Pak govt will have deal with "core element" in security services to curb terror: US

Washington, Mar 12 : Even as it's less than a week to go before the next government takes over in Pakistan, the US State Department has said that the Musharraf regime had done much to fight terror, and that the new regime will have to deal with a "certain core element" with security services to curb extremism.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the US administration would work with the new government in fighting terrorism. "In terms of the US government, we are going to work with the new Pakistani government once it is formed on issues of mutual concern, and certainly fighting terrorism is one of those," he said last evening.

Violence was not something new to Pakistan. The Pakistan government had made great strides in fighting violent extremists over the past six years. However, there was still more left to be done and the government would have to deal with a "certain core element" with security services and security means, the Daily Times quoted McCormack as saying at a regular press briefing.

He also said that people's faith in governing institutions (in Pakistan) could also act as a check towards terror.

It said that it was "vitally important" that the Pakistani people have faith in their governing institutions, as well as their government and their political processes, as stability and democracy go hand in hand. Governing institutions that enjoyed the people's faith were a bulwark against violent extremists and terrorists, he added.

McCormack further said that efforts were currently underway to broaden and deepen political and economic reforms so that more Pakistanis, who have a stake in the country's economy, could be brought into the political process.

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

About Musharraf's apprehensions about possible confrontations between him and the new Parliament, the State Department spokesman said: "Well, 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. 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."

ANI