Pakistan-US ties to grow with time passage: Musharraf
Pakistan Times Monitoring Desk

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has said future bodes well for Pakistan-US ties as both countries are developing strategic relationship, which will be long-term and broad-based.

The President stated this in an interview with a British TV channel, late Thursday evening, while commenting on India’s reported plans for purchase of patriot anti-missile system from the United States.

The President said he would not like to compete for the relationship of US in exchange for what they are doing for India.

Pakistan, he said, is following a strategy of defensive deterrence and will maintain it as the country has quantified the needs for its armed forces.

“We have formulated our 15 years development strategy, and we will never lose this effect of our strategy of defensive deterrence in the development of our armed forces, in the future, we will maintain this defensive deterrence strategy.”

In response to a question, President Musharraf expressed the hope that with flexibility both Pakistan and India would be able to resolve the lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Citing the recent Pakistan-India accord on commencement of bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the President said it is an indication of a degree of flexibility shown by both sides.

“I hope if this flexibility continues, there is no reason why we should not be optimistic about the resolution of Kashmir dispute,” he told the channel.●