US to help strengthen democracy in Pakistan: Rice
'Pakistan Times' Foreign Desk

ALABAMA: The United States said that it would fully help Pakistan in strengthening democratic institutions in Pakistan and the war against terror.

She said that the US would support the efforts of the Pakistan people for establishing independent judiciary, rule of law and free media in Pakistan.

Rice said that the US-Pakistan cooperation is very necessary for eliminating terrorism.

Rice said that both the military and the nation's foreign service has had to adapt to the changing nature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and to changing conditions throughout Pakistan and Asia. That change has not come easily, she said.

Replying to a question, the US secretary of state said that Pakistan has to establish a solid civilian structure.

She said that the Pakistan people deserve to be congratulated as they supported democratic forces in the elections of February 18 despite difficult situation and proved by breaking the back of the extremists that they are a democracy loving people.●