America never listens to us, Pakistan says
America never listens to us, Pakistan says - The Times of India
America never listens to us, Pakistan says - The Times of India
LONDON: At a time when both countries are trying to mend their ties, Pakistan's top envoy here said some factions in the US still prefer to work with "just one man" rather than a democratic government, and accused Washington of "talking in miles" when it comes to democracy but of "moving in inches".
The remarks were made by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan who was "scathing about what he sees as the US's weak commitment towards democracy in Pakistan and Afghanistan".
"They talk in miles in support of democracy, but they move in inches. They say, 'We are fully for democracy, we want democracy, we support the Arab Spring, we are opposed to military interference in Egypt'.
"All of these things are very good. They are music to my ears. But when it comes to real politics they are different. [US Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton has really supported democracy. But she is one person. There are so many pillars of power in the United States, and they act differently," Hasan said in an interview to London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
He also "implies there are those in the US government who would still prefer to be dealing with a dictator," the report said.
"The United States if you look at Pakistan's 65 year history has always preferred to deal with one man rather than with institutions.
"They would never like a matter to go to the parliament, to be debated there, for issues to be accountable to the parliament and the people, they don't want that, they want one man," he was quoted as saying.
Regretting that offers to mediate with the Taliban in Afghanistan had been rebuffed by the US, Hasan insisted that his country can still play a key role in negotiating peace in the war-torn country.
