WASHINGTON, Sept 20: The United States believes that religious parties have a place in Pakistan’s political spectrum although they may not get as many votes in the next elections as they did in 2002, says US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

Mr Boucher, addressing students of the South Asia programme at Washington’s School for Advanced International Studies, also said that those who oppose the constitutional process and perpetuate violence “do not belong to any political system.”Mr Boucher rejected the suggestion that restoring democracy to Pakistan could bring “uncertainty and chaos” and thus hurt the war against terror.

“Democracy is the best form of governance that I know,” he said.

During the question-and-answer session, the US official indirectly confirmed media reports that he had been helping the Pakistani government and the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto reach a political deal.

Asked if he visited Dubai last month to meet Ms Bhutto, Mr Boucher said he has met Pakistani political leaders and that the United States is encouraging moderate elements of the Pakistani society to come together to fight terrorism.

His remarks, however, showed frustration with the reconciliation process that Washington is promoting as part of its efforts to make a power-sharing arrangement between President Musharraf and Ms Bhutto.

“We can encourage people to move smoothly (towards democracy) and strengthen a moderate centre,” he said. “Whether they are going to make the move and to form coalition is up to them. They are going to do what they are going to do.”

Asked if the democratic process in Pakistan could also strengthen religious parties opposed to the US-led war against terror and whether those parties belong to the country’s political spectrum, Mr Boucher said: “We certainly think religious parties have a place in the political spectrum.”

The US official said that there were parties in the MMA that have participated in the political process but added that “there are lot speculations about what happens to the MMA in the next elections … and there are people in Pakistan who believe they might not get as many votes as they did in the past.”He added: “The votes they get what they get, they have a place in the political process.”

Mr Boucher described democracy as the “best platform to modernise the country and deal with the problem of extremism.”

He observed that making a successful transition to democracy will strengthen Pakistan’s ability to deal with challenges of extremism. “Long-term stability in Pakistan requires return to democracy,” he stated, adding that Washington encourages smooth transition in Pakistan and desires free, fair and transparent elections.

Mr Boucher lauded Pakistan’s performance in the economic field and acknowledged tremendous strides the Pakistani media has made over the last several years. Overall, he said, there has been a modernising trend in Pakistan in recent years and it is moving in a ‘modern direction’.