WASHINGTON, Sept 15: The United States on Wednesday refused to comment on President Pervez Musharraf's decision to retain his military title, saying that they needed more time to consider it carefully.

US State Department's spokesman Richard Boucher, when asked for comments, said: "I don't have anything on that right now. We've seen the announcement. We'll look at it carefully."

He then said that the United States had always supported movement and progress towards democracy in Pakistan and this had been the fundamental (American) view on Pakistan.

"What we want to say about the specific step (taken by President Musharraf), I'll have to consider, and we'll get back to you." Asked again if he believed that the move would be a step in the right direction toward democracy, he said: "I'll have to look at the step and consider it and get back to you."

In US diplomatic circles such a response is usually interpreted as indicating America's displeasure with the subject. South Asian diplomats in Washington believe that the Americans may later criticize Gen Musharraf's decision but in a more calculated and careful manner.