U.S. commander sees no danger to Pakistani gov't from Army: media

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. General David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, said that he is positive that the Pakistan military does not nurture any notion of destabilising Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari or the present government in Islamabad, local media reported on Tuesday.

The local newspaper The News quoted Petraeus as saying that "I have seen no indication that General Ashfaq Kayani is entertaining such a notion. Whenever we have talked to them they say they are committed to democratically elected civilian government. Whenever any such topic is touched upon they say they are supportive of the government."

The visiting U.S. general made the remarks Monday while speaking to reporters at the residence of the U.S. ambassador. He was asked about his meeting with General Kayani, Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff, that whether there was any indication during the discussions that the military wanted to remove Zardari.

"I am greatly impressed by the Pakistan Army and it appears that something different has taken place in Pakistan. There is a unity amongst the political leaders, citizens and clerics in recognition of the internal threat," Petraeus said.

Earlier on the same day, Pakistani Federation's counsel Kamal Azfar said before the Supreme Court that the democratic system in Pakistan is under threat from Pakistan Army's General Headquarter (GHQ) and American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has stunned the nation.

According to the newspaper, when asked about the question in this regard, Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that Azfarhad already explained before the Supreme Court that what he said about the GHQ and CIA was his personal view.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's spokesman Mian Jehangir said that Gilani does not believe that the GHQ or Pakistan Army poses any threat to democracy. He reiterated that the Prime Minister's Secretariat is absolutely clear about the positive role of the Pakistan Army and its chief.

The Pakistan Army is keeping silent on the charge against the military.