Pakistan must focus on problems, not Musharraf: U.S

By Zeeshan Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani politicians should stop squabbling over the fate of President Pervez Musharraf and focus on pressing problems of rising Islamist militancy, soaring prices and energy shortages, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

U.S. ally Musharraf has become increasingly isolated since his political supporters suffered a humiliating defeat in February elections, but critics say differences in the new coalition over how to deal with him have virtually paralyzed government.

"Frankly, President Musharraf is not the issue right now. This is not the problem that Pakistan faces right now," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a news conference after talks with Musharraf and other leaders.

"The problem Pakistani people face is the danger of bombings, suicide bombers, rising food prices. There are energy difficulties," he said.

The coalition led by the party of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto wants to get rid of Musharraf, who seized power as a military strongman in 1999.

However, there is disagreement between the coalition partners over how to do it and also over how to resolve the issue of dozens of judges Musharraf sacked in November after he imposed a brief period of emergency rule.

The United States and other Western allies are concerned about instability in the nuclear-armed state which faces a growing threat from al Qaeda and Taliban militants trying to extend their writ from tribal areas on the Afghan border.

Pakistan's allies also want it to stop Taliban militants from making cross-border forays into Afghanistan, where in June Western troops suffered their highest monthly death toll since 2001.  Continued...