NEW YORK, Oct 16: The United States on Tuesday reiterated that the elections in Pakistan were “an important step towards the restoration of full democracy in Pakistan” saying “we continue to watch this process closely and remain engaged with Pakistan through the transition”

At a press briefing the US State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, appeared to reject the suggestions that the success of the religious parties could undermine US/Pakistan relations and stressed “the course on which President Musharraf has led his nation is an important one. It offers the prospect of a moderate Muslim nation and that’s one we wholeheartedly support.”

Responding to a question, Mr Boucher noted that “some of these (religious) parties did quite well, especially in Balochistan and the Northwest Frontier, but in the National Assembly they’ll be one of the several parties and there’ll probably, based on all accounts, be some kind of coalition.”

“We look forward to working with the new government when it’s formed” Mr Boucher said and underscored “obviously full-fledged democracy is yet to come. We want Pakistan to keep moving in that direction.”

When asked to comment on the findings of European Union observers on Pakistan’s elections he said “we concur that while some questions about restrictions on candidate qualifications in campaigning exist,” nevertheless he noted “these elections are an important step towards the restoration of full democracy in Pakistan.”

HE SAID: “We also agree that government and political leaders now have a joint responsibility to ensure the smooth transition to a sustainable form of democratic and civilian rule.”