A top US diplomat has been defending himself against charges that he had unauthorised contacts with a contender for the presidency of Pakistan.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, reportedly angered US state department officials by speaking to Asif Zardari regularly.

But Mr Khalilzad said contacts were social for the most part and any policy discussions were reported to officials.

The US is officially trying to stay neutral in Pakistan's politics.

Zalmay Khalilzad told Report: German Soldier Killed in Afghanistan ...
Germany Pledges 420 Million Euros for Afghan Reconstruction ... reporters he wanted to set the record straight over stories that he had angered his political masters in Washington by having unauthorised contacts with Mr Zardari.

Leaked emails showed a US state department official demanding an explanation from Mr Khalilzad, asking what kind of advice and help he was providing to Mr Zardari.

Well regarded

Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been the US ambassador to both Afghanistan and Iraq, said he had known former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for a long time, and had gotten to know her husband as well.

Ms Bhutto had been favourite to win Pakistan's general election and become prime minister for a third time before she was assassinated on 27 December.

The election was subsequently postponed until February, and her Pakistan's People Party, led by her widower, Asif Zardari, emerged as the winners. He is now running for president in Saturday's polls.

Mr Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan, said many of his contacts in the broader Middle East preceded his role in government and he should not end them just because he was an official.

"These contacts and relationships have been useful for the US but at the same time I'm experienced enough to know the difference between being a channel with these friends on behalf of the US or having social contacts," he said.

Responding to reports that he was fundraising to run for president of Afghanistan, the ambassador said - as he has many times before - that he had no plans to become a candidate.

Mr Khalilzad, who speaks Persian and Pashto, is well regarded at the United Nations and widely liked - he slaps fellow diplomats on the back or hugs them as a greeting.

He has irritated state department officials before, by sitting next to the Iranian foreign minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos even though the two countries have no diplomatic ties.

(BBC)

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