Lahore, Nov 14: Pledging continued US support for President General Pervez Musharraf, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the general should be given time to make good his promises to return his country to democratic rule.

“Pakistan is a country that’s going through extraordinarily difficult circumstances, but it is an ally, it is a friend, ” Rice said on ABC’s “This Week” programme.

“We believe that at a time like this, our best role is to counsel and indeed persuade that Pakistan has got to get back on the democratic path that it had established, ” the Washington Times quoted her, as saying.

Rice said Musharraf “still has extremely important steps to take”, particularly the lifting of the state of emergency, adding that he “still provides the best option for getting Pakistan back on a democratic path”.

She said the US would review its aid programme to Pakistan, but added that the money has been vital in fighting Al Qaeda, the Daily Times reported. (ANI)