John Negroponte in Islamabad delivering upbeat assessment of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's commitment to shed his army command and hold elections. U.S. embassy photo.

by Mark Silva

John Negroponte, the deputy security of state returning from a trip to Pakistan today, delivered an assessment of the situation in Islamabad that only a diplomat could make.

After meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, who has declared a state of emergency and locked up opponents, Negroponte asserted that Musharraf had "reiterated his vision for a moderate, prosperous and democratic Pakistan,'' a nation which has "made great progress toward that vision.''

And Negroponte reaffirmed the Bush administration's support for the military leader and president whom the United States has counted on as an ally against terrorists in the region since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He commended Musharraf for his promise to proceed with parliamentary elections in January. And he said Musharraf had reiterated his own "commitment to retire from his army post before commencing his second presidential term.''

It's true that the recent "police actions... run directly counter to the reforms that have been undertaken in recent years,'' Negroponte said. But the U.S. has encouraged the government to "nurture a moderate political center'' -- the best way, he said, to counter violent extremism.

See his remarks here, dispatched by the U.S. embassy in Islamabad:

Negroponte met with Musharraf and other senior Pakistani government officials, including the national security adviser, vice chief of Army staff ,and Inter-Services Intelligence director.

He also spoke by telephone with Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister whom Musharraf placed under house arrest after declaring a state of emergency.

"In my meeting with President Musharraf, he reiterated his vision for a moderate, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan,'' Negroponte said in Islamabad today. "Under his leadership, Pakistan has made great progress toward that vision. Over the past few years, the Pakistani people have witnessed expanded and freer media, unprecedented economic growth and development, and the moderation of gender-based laws and school curricula.

"President Musharraf has been and continues to be a strong voice against extremism,'' he said. "We value our partnership with the government of Pakistan under the leadership of President Musharraf.

"We welcome President Musharraf’s announcement that elections will take place in January, a commitment he repeated to me yesterday in categorical terms,'' he said. "He also repeated his commitment to retire from his army post before commencing his second presidential term, and we urge him to do so as soon as possible.

:"Unfortunately, the recent police actions against protestors, suppression of the media, and the arrests of political and human rights leaders run directly counter to the reforms that have been undertaken in recent years. Their continuation undermines the progress Pakistan has made.

"I urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency, and release all political detainees. Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair, and credible elections, which require the active participation of political parties, civil society, and the media. The people of Pakistan deserve an opportunity to choose their leaders free from the restrictions that exist under a state of emergency.

"Looking to the future, the United States (believes) that the best way for any country to counter violent extremism is to develop and nurture a moderate political center. We believe this is true for Pakistan as well, and in my talks I encouraged reconciliation between political moderates as the most constructive way forward. A democratic Pakistan that continues the fight against terror is vital to the interests of both the United States and Pakistan.

"In the current circumstances, engagement and dialogue – not brinksmanship and confrontation – should be the order of the day for all parties.The United States supports the Pakistani people in their efforts to develop a prosperous and democratic nation.''