US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter on Saturday said the United States has a right to interfere in Pakistan’s economic and governance affairs as the former provides funds to Islamabad.
Addressing a function here, Mr Munter said the US is the biggest donor to Pakistan and, “therefore, it has the right to interfere in economic and governance affairs”.
The ambassador said the US made demands of Pakistan with respect and dignity, adding that the statement of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton about petroleum prices was misquoted.
He dispelled the impression that the US was mounting pressure on Pakistan to launch a military operation in North Waziristam. Ms Clinton’s opposition to the withdrawal of the hike in petroleum prices was seen as “interference” in Pakistan’s matters by Opposition parties.
A former CIA official, meanwhile, said Pakistan has more terrorists per square mile than any other country in the world, making it the most dangerous place on earth.
“Pakistan is our most important partner in the war against Al Qaeda and the most difficult partner in the war against Al Qaeda,” Bruce Riedel, author of Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad, said in an interview.
He added that United States President Barack Obama should give Pakistan top national-security priority.
“It is the fastest growing nuclear arsenal in the world and it has more terrorists per square mile than any other country in the world,” Mr Riedel, who also authored the Obama administration’s Af-Pak strategy, added.
Mr Riedel says the United States must pursue a two-track approach with Pakistan, according to his book. On one hand, he supports a five-year, $1.5-billion non-military aid package sponsored by Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Richard Lugar that is still stalled in Congress.
The money, Mr Riedel says, will help convince the Pakistani people that the US is seeking a long-term friendship.
But he also says the United States should get tough with Pakistan’s top generals and members of its ISI if there is evidence that they support the Taliban or Al Qaeda.