WASHINGTON, June 15: The United States has said that democratic freedoms should not be “infringed” in Pakistan, sending a firmer signal to President Gen Pervez Musharraf about the importance of fair elections.

“The people of Pakistan have a longstanding respect for democracy and, as a friend of Pakistan, we want to see the further development of strong democratic institutions in that country,” said US National Security Council spokeswoman Kate Starr on Thursday (Friday in Pakistan).

In her statement she avoided mention of Pakistan’s importance in fighting terrorism.

“Freedom of press, freedom of assembly, an independent judiciary, and free and fair elections are essential to that development and must not be infringed,” she added.

“We have stressed and continue to stress these points to our interlocutors in Pakistan at all levels of the government.”—Reuters