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July 17, 2003: Christina Rocca discusses Pakistan with Mishal Husain.
Mishal Husain:
Madame Assistant Secretary, one of the things we saw in that film was the tremendous number of contrasts in modern Pakistan. Why would you say that this is a country that matters to the United States?
Christina Rocca:
Pakistan matters to the United States for a large number of reasons. First of all, it is a critical partner in the war on terror. It has been an ally in Operation Enduring Freedom in the war in Afghanistan. It's been critical for that. It also is a country with whom we have a long history -- one that we're hoping to put back on track and to move forward with -- and to put on a long-term basis.
Mishal Husain:
One of the goals is democracy in Pakistan. How does the U.S. deal with the fact that the return to democracy has led to the rise of the religious parties that we saw in that film?
Christina Rocca:
Well, we're going in the right direction in democracy. President Musharraf set up a road map. He stuck to the road map so far. We're moving towards democracy. There are obviously voices who are wanting to be heard. And I think that as we move towards a fuller democracy, it'll be a place where all voices will be heard from all sides of the spectrum. That's what we hope for.
Mishal Husain:
It's an uncomfortable reality for the United States, isn't it, that now you have religious parties that, for the first time, are a political force in Pakistan's Parliament and they are deeply anti-American.
Christina Rocca:
Well, the anti-American aspect of it is something that we clearly need to work on. I don't think we've done a good enough job of putting out the message of the fact that the United States is tolerant, and in no way anti-Islam. On the contrary. And so we need to do a better job of getting this message heard. It's a long-term project, however.
Mishal Husain:
How does Pakistan compare to the United States' vision for the rest of the Muslim world? It does have a democracy today. On the other hand, it's presided over by President Musharraf, who didn't come to power through anything resembling democratic means. Far from it.
Christina Rocca:
Well, Pakistan is a country of enormous potential. It's 140 million people. President Musharraf has laid out a vision for Pakistan as a stable Muslim moderate democracy, and this is a vision that Pakistan can achieve with some work and some assistance from the international community. And that's the vision that the U.S. would like to support.
Mishal Husain:
But clearly the vision of the religious parties is quite different. And their message has a resonance with the voters of Pakistan.
Christina Rocca:
There's no doubt about it. It certainly is a portion of the population. And it's one that will be represented. But it is our view is that the majority of the nation of Pakistan wants to move forward towards a prosperous economically viable modern nation.
Mishal Husain:
President Musharraf has said that he doesn't think Pakistan's ready for a fully-fledged democracy. What President Bush says about the need for democracy in the Western world is something quite different.
Christina Rocca:
Pakistan has had various democracy through its history. This is a country that is basically, we believe, democratic. And as democracy unfolds, and as they move towards a fuller democracy, I think all voices will be heard on all sides of the spectrum. And it won't just offer the opportunity for one view to dominate.
Mishal Husain:
So, you would hope for more balancing of parties like religious parties?
Christina Rocca:
I'd hope for more balancing across the spectrum, absolutely.
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U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca
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