By Arun Kumar

Washington, May 19 (IANS) Calling the relationship between the United States and Pakistan an "impossible situation," a maverick Republican presidential contender has said the US may end up occupying Pakistan, but an occupation attempt he believes would be "unsuccessful".

"I see the whole thing as a mess, and I think that we are going to be in Pakistan," Texas congressman Ron Paul told MSNBC Wednesday.

"I think that's the next occupation and I fear it. I think it's ridiculous, and I think our foreign policy is such that we don't need to be doing this," he said.

He sees an occupation of even greater scale than Afghanistan on the horizon, Paul said. But if it happens, "It will probably be very unsuccessful," he said.

Paul, a noted non-interventionist, said the United States has created a civil war in Pakistan and violated the country's national security by its raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan. He also addressed the idea of conspiracy theories popping up about slain Al Qaeda leader and the US raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, close to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

"How many stories have we heard already about the killing of bin Laden," Paul asked. "I mean, people are supposed to know what their government's doing. If you ask me exactly what happened, I have no idea because I've heard so many stories."

Asked if he had just floated a conspiracy theory himself, Paul flatly said "no."

"I think the inept policy invites people to think about conspiracy theories because we don't get all the evidence," Paul said. "I think there will be plenty of conspiracy theories because we're presenting facts that we're changing on almost a daily basis."