| Minister Zafarullah Jamali waded into US politics during an interview with The Associated Press, saying he wishes President Bush well in his re-election bid this November. Zafarullah Khan Jamaliâs comment was a rare taking-of-sides by a world leader in another countryâs election, and one that is particularly unusual given the American presidentâs low standing among Muslims angered over the war in Iraq, US support for Israel and allegations that American servicemen abused Iraqi prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. âToday we are lucky with the Republicans that the president, his secretary of state, the vice president and the secretary of defense â they all have a personal relationship with Pakistan, and also as a government, so that I think is a much better bet as far as Pakistan-American relations are concerned,â Jamali said Wednesday at his official residence on a hilltop overlooking the capital. He said the contest between Bush and Sen. John Kerry the presumptive Democratic candidate, is a matter for the American people to decide, and that Pakistani-U.S. relations go beyond personalities. But he added: âWhat the results of those elections are we must wait and see, though I would wish President Bush well, definitely.â |