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Pak acceded to US 'demands' after 'blunt' talk: Armitage

Pakistan agreed to US 'demands' for cooperation in the war against terrorism and Osama bin Laden, prime suspect for recent strikes in the US, after 'very blunt' and 'frank talk', Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said.

"I think it has been well-reported that we had a very blunt and frank talk with officials of Pakistan, and we were able to get them to accede to our demands," Armitage said in an interview with ABC TV network.

"I don't want to be public about them, but it is recognised equally that Pakistan is a fragile political society, and we don't want to burden Pakistan with more than we absolutely need," he said.

When asked whether the US was worried that use of Pakistan excessively as an avenue into Afghanistan might provoke Islamic radicals in that country, he said, "No, I didn't say that. I think we'll be guided by (Pakistan) President (Pervez) Musharraf and his views of the political situation in his country. I think most of us have been quite heartened that the anti-American activity in Pakistan has been relatively low."

Whether the US would move in to protect the Pakistani government in an event of a threat to it from radicals, the deputy secretary said, "I don't think I would engage in hypotheticals. A great majority of 140 million people of Pakistan see their future with the West. They realise that we respect Islam; it is one of the great religions of the world. And at the end of the day, with careful diplomacy and with good leadership in the coalition and by President Musharraf, Pakistan can have the future that most of its citizens hope for," Armitage said.

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