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The United States seeks a
stronger partnership with Pakistan, said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton. "We seek not to impose our preferences on Pakistan or to override
the government's judgments or subvert the people's will. Instead," said
Secretary Clinton, "we want a relationship based on mutual respect and
shared responsibility."
The United States has taken major steps in recent months to support Pakistan as
it seeks to strengthen democratic institutions, foster economic development,
expand opportunity, and defeat the extremist groups who threaten both
Pakistan's security and America's.
The U.S. has provided about half of the international assistance to displaced
families in Pakistan's tribal areas, including families from Swat, Buner,
Bajaur, and South Waziristan. Another part of U.S. assistance includes efforts
to help repair and upgrade key power stations in an effort to end chronic
energy shortages that have caused blackouts across Pakistan, leaving families
in the dark for days, forcing factories and businesses to close.
But to achieve long-term progress, Pakistan must strengthen its democratic
institutions. This will help the government become more responsive to its
citizens, build broad support for future government initiatives, and ensure
that the needs of all the people of Pakistan are taken into account. The U.S.
has significantly increased civilian aid to Pakistan to support progress toward
a stronger democracy.
Meanwhile, security continues to be a vital concern, as innocent Pakistani men,
women and children are killed in terrorist attacks. The Pakistani military has
taken on the fight against the Pakistani Taliban, and the U.S. has increased
its efforts to help.
Pakistan has a promising future, said Secretary Clinton: to become a beacon of
democracy and a model of development, not only in South Asia, but globally and
particularly in the Muslim world.
