US will continue to work with Zardari govt

The United States said on Wednesday it was working closely with the democratic government led by President Asif Ali Zardari in areas of common interest and that American officials maintained contacts with opposition parties in Pakistan just as they did in other countries.At the daily briefing, the State Department said: ‘There is a government in place. We are working with the government. There are opposition parties, we have regular contacts with opposition parties not only in Pakistan but also in all nations.’’We are in a good diplomatic relationship with Pakistan, we will continue to work with the government on the problems that it faces not only those of terrorism but also on institution-building and on economics,’ State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said in response to a question if Washington was looking more towards PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to work with.Answering another question, the spokesman said he would not analyse recent political developments, but emphasised that the US would continue to work closely with the current democratically-elected government.‘What I will say is that where we are right now, is working with a Pakistani government. And that, you know, as the political process moves forward till such time that Pakistan has new elections (after four years), there will be another government, that we would continue to try and maintain our good relationship with.’’But we are not there at the moment. And we are certainly working with President (Asif Ali) Zardari and the current Pakistani government.’