But the political leadership does not want that. "So a part of the strategy is building up those elements in Pakistan that understand that having a stable and peaceful relationship with Afghanistan is actually in Pakistan's national security interest,"

VOA: standard.2009.12.06

"I think what's going on here is Mr.Zardari attempting to convey to his constituency back home that the political leadership, as well as the military leadership, is able to convey Pakistan's interests, is able to defend Pakistan's interests as well as anyone else, and certainly the prerogative of defending those interests does not lie with the military."

VOA: standard.2010.08.06

"When you really look deeper at what the AU is doing and what is happening at the regional economic community level, though the progress has not been what we might have expected a number of years ago, it has changed, and it is a work in progress, and next year this time we might be talking about the next summit within a very different context if we are looking at the political leadership of the day,".

VOA: standard.2009.07.02

"And that impacts political relations at some point. Accepting Turkish leadership is just one step too far."

VOA: standard.2010.07.26

Gambari said that during the secretary-general's visit last month to Burma, which is also known as Myanmar, Mr.Ban met with the country's senior leadership and asked them to free Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners as well as take steps to enhance the political process leading to next year's elections as a gesture of their credibility to the international community.

VOA: standard.2009.08.11