India wants stable democratic government in Pakistan

New Delhi, Mar 16 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that India wants a stable democratic government in Pakistan, which would act as bulwark against terrorism and extremism.

Terming the conflict as Pakistan's internal affair, Mukherjee said, it is essential for Pakistan to end its conflict and devote the time and energy in fighting terrorism to maintain peace and stability in the region.

"But at the same time, it is our interest if there is a stable democratic government in Pakistan, which acts as a bulwark against terrorism and extremism. We do hope the internal confrontation in Pakistan will come to an end," said Mukherjee.

Pakistan Government agreed on Monday to reinstate Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as Chief Justice in order to defuse the political crisis and end the street agitation which had been turning violent.

The political turmoil in Pakistan was threatening to destabilize the government on a war path with the opposition leading the long march on the issue of reinstatement of judges sacked by the former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif had thrown his support behind the anti-government lawyers' protest campaign that brought turmoil in Pakistan as the government was struggling to stem militancy and revive a flagging economy.

The political crisis gripping the Pakistan had alarmed the United States and Britain, which feared that any slide into chaos would help the Taliban and al Qaeda become stronger in Pakistan. The United States has welcomed Chaudhry's reinstatement. (ANI)