Islamabad: The United States has stepped up pressure on Pakistan to support its
possible second resolution in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to authorise military
strikes against Iraq.
While US President George Bush telephoned President Pervez Musharraf on February 14
to solicit support, US Ambassador to Islamabad, Nancy Powell called on Foreign
Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to solicit Pakistan's support for US moves in UNSC
on Iraq.
The meeting between Nancy Powell and Kasuri was seen as part of a concerted United
States effort to 'convince' Pakistan to support Washington moves on Iraq, local daily
'Dawn' said on February 16.
The newspaper quoted officials as saying that Nancy's visit had been prompted by
Pakistan's stated stand against any unilateral action against Iraq. Before her
meeting with
Kasuri, US Secretary of State Colin Powell also talked to Kasuri on telephone and
discussed the same issue.
The Ambassador's call on the foreign minister on February 14 and telephone calls by
the US President and Secretary of State to their Pakistani counterparts were seen as
signs of mounting pressure by the Bush government on Pakistan that is currently a
member of the UNSC.
The newspaper said the Musharraf-Jamali government would not be able to defend itself
on the domestic front if Pakistan ends up being the only Muslim country to support a
US-led war on Iraq.
PTI
