A step backward, U.S. tells Pak.

WASHINGTON, JAN. 28. The United States has deplored a Pakistani Government decree that judges take an oath of allegiance to the provisions of military rule, seen as a step back from promises to restore civilian rule. The decree has added to the gap between Washington and Islamabad, which are also at odds over Kashmir issue, nuclear tests and ties with the Taliban.

``The United States deplores Gen. Musharraf's order,'' said the State Department spokesman, Mr. James Rubin, on Thursday. ``This move undermines the integrity and independence of the judiciary in Pakistan. This is contrary to the path of restoration of civilian rule the General had pledged to follow when he took power in October,'' Mr. Rubin added.

Restoring the civilian rule in Pakistan was one of the main issues which dominated the talks at a meeting between Gen. Musharraf and a U.S. delegation, led by the Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Karl Inderfurth, in Islamabad last week.

Vague threat on terrorism

Mr. Rubin volunteered a vague threat that the Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright, might use her power to designate countries as sponsors of terrorism.

``If the Secretary of State determines that a Government has repeatedly provided support to terrorism directly, then she would be prepared to designate that country as a `state sponsor of terrorism'.

``This step with the judiciary is not a step forward. But because it's a step backward does not mean that Gen. Musharraf will not proceed down the path towards civilian democratic rule,'' Mr. Rubin said.

On the possibility that the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, might include Pakistan in his tour of South Asia later this year, Mr. Rubin said Ms. Albright's recommendation to the White House would have to balance two elements - reluctance to do business with the military rulers and the U.S. national interest in regional stability and in nuclear non-proliferation.

``There will need to be a calculation as to what is the best way to advance our national interests, by trying to see that the kind of steps we want taken get taken, or by avoiding Pakistan. That is the question that the Secretary will wrestle with in the coming days and weeks,'' he said.

Pak. can influence Taliban

Pakistan's ``considerable influence'' over the Taliban militia has helped improve human rights for women in Afghanistan, the U.S Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Karl Inderfurth, has said.

``When we talk to the Pakistanis - who we believe have considerable influence on the Taliban - we press the issue of human rights for Afghan women,'' Mr. Inderfurth told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday.

Meanwhile, media reports here today said Mr. Clinton may skip Pakistan during his upcoming South Asia visit citing new security issues in addition to support by some Pakistan Government agencies to terrorist organisations and Islamabad's links with the fundamentalist Taliban of Afghanistan. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, insisted that ``a visit to Pakistan is still an open question and an announcement on a visit to South Asia would be made soon'', Washington Times said.

- Reuter, PTI

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