US expresses concern about increasing extremism in Pakistan

The US has expressed its concern over the increasing extremism in Pakistan, including the latest incident wherein the hero's treatment was given to the security guard, who shot dead outspoken Punjab governor Salman Taseer, by a section of the society.

The US has expressed its concern over the increasing extremism in Pakistan, including the latest incident wherein the hero's treatment was given to the security guard, who shot dead outspoken Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, by a section of the society.

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"Well, we have been concerned about increased extremism in Pakistan for some time. It is at the heart of our Strategic Dialogue and our strategy with respect to Pakistan," US State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We've made clear, political violence is a threat to the civilian government in Pakistan, and obviously this is just the latest example," he said when asked about the hero's treatment being given to Mumtaz Qadri who gunned down Punjab governor Salman Taseer.

"A civilian-led democratic government is integral to Pakistan's economic and social development," Crowley said when asked about the latest political development in Pakistan where the PPP-led federal government got a lifeline when its biggest ally MQM on Friday announced its return to the ruling coalition.