US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Pakistan government and its armed forces are moving in the right direction to eliminate terrorists and America will continue its support in this regard.

In a formal interaction with students at Government College University here Thursday, she hoped that Pakistan would soon achieve a rock-solid success in the war on terror. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, US Ambassador in Pakistan N W Patterson, Punjab Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Punjab Assemly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed were also present. She said, “Though the terror war is being fought on your (Pakistan) land, but it is not Pakistan’s war alone;
Pakistan is fighting on the front and the US stands by it.” Responding to a student’s query, she observed if peace was restored between Pakistan and India and their mutual disputes were resolved, Pakistan would take off as a rocket in terms of economic development. She said the US was a friend of Pakistan and India alike, adding that Pakistan was a close ally of America, which had always maintained consistent relations with it.
To another question, she said the Kerry-Lugar law was not meant to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence or micro-manage any matter by any way. “It was aimed at helping Pakistan strengthen its democratic institutions, its people and economy through human security and economic opportunities,” she said. The US Secretary of State said her country could help create jobs to boost Pakistan’s economy and explore and nurture the women potential for their contribution to national development. To a question about the demand for court trial of former president Pervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf, Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton said it was Pakistan’s internal matter and people of Pakistan have to decide about it.
However, there must be respect for rule of law, judiciary and elected government, she said. “I was not happy when US supreme court announced Mr. G.W. Bush as President of the United States, but I honoured the court and did not oppose it.” To another question, she said that she had profound grief over the assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto (Shaheed) and her murder inflicted an irreparable loss to Pakistan and the democracy as she had a greater role in the revival of democracy in Pakistan. Hillary Clinton appreciated Pakistan’s civil society for playing substantial role to ensure free judiciary and restoration of democracy in the country. The US administration led by Barack Obama is committed to support sustained and durable democracy in Pakistan. Responding to a question, she said a successful democracy means independent judiciary, free press, freedom of expression, elected people’s commitment to play according to the rules, protection to minority rights, acceptance of diversity in opinion, transparency, check and balance, and effective measures to curb corruption. She said the Obama administration was laying greater emphasis on supporting Pakistan in the fields of education, micro financing and energy sector etc. The US has also extended financial assistance of $ 45 million to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for promotion of university and technical education, especially in southern Punjab and NWFP. “We are collaborating in technological and economic front like never before,” she added. To a student’s query, she said the US administration was making efforts for bringing Americans and Pakistanis closer together adding that strong liaison between communities of both countries would prove to be an effective tool for enhancing mutual understanding, which would ultimately help resolve the problems. She said there was trust deficiency among people of Pakistan and the US, but she was of the view that it should not be like that. However, Obama administration was trying to bridge this deficiency. “None of us is perfect but we can work to assure that we are sincere to each other and can remove our misunderstandings to put the things in right direction,” she said. President Barack ObamaBarack Obama is committed to ensuring a prosperous and developed South Asia, she added.