WASHINGTON, Feb 22: President Pervez Musharraf has urged the United States to show forbearance while judging Pakistan in its commitment to fight terrorism.

The president’s plea — published in the Washington Post on Friday — comes amid growing concerns in Washington that an elected government in Islamabad may be less inclined to fight terrorists because of the unpopularity of the US-led war against terrorism.

Also on Friday, a front-page article in the New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the political hesitations and weaknesses of the new Pakistani government could undermine the war against terrorism.

President Musharraf, however, disagreed with this suggestion. “On terrorism, let me be perfectly clear: Pakistan faces and fights this menace with full dedication,” he wrote, noting that Al Qaeda and its affiliates had declared war on the civilised world, and the moderate government and people of Pakistan were prime targets.

The president reminded those who questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the fight against terrorism that more than 1,000 Pakistani troops had lost their lives fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban forces over the past four years, and 112,000 troops were deployed along the Afghan border to fight this menace.

“We will continue to work closely with our longtime American allies in our common struggle to rid Pakistan and the world of militant extremism,” he assured Washington.

President Musharraf described the Feb 18 election as a milestone in the nation’s 60-year history, arguing that Pakistan’s transition to democracy is essential to achieving reconciliation among its people.

The nation, according to him, now faces three main tasks: defeating terrorism and extremism; building a stable and effective democratic government; and creating a solid foundation for sustained economic growth.

“I stand ready to work with the newly elected Parliament to achieve these objectives,” he promised. President Musharraf said the election results also showed that the overwhelming majority of 160 million people in Pakistan were firmly committed to a moderate view of Islam and to the national prosperity that only modernisation could bring.

To succeed in its efforts to fight terrorism and to turn Pakistan into a moderate and modern sate, Pakistan would require the continued support of the United States, he wrote.

“I would ask Americans to remember that building democracy is difficult in the best of conditions; doing so in a complex country such as Pakistan with its uneasy political history, with its centuries-old regional and feudal cleavages, and with violent extremists dedicated to the defeat of democracy is even more challenging.

Our correspondent adds from Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that Feb 18 elections were a victory of the democratic process in Pakistan.

Talking to two US legislators, the president said that the elections could prove to be a major stabilising factor in the country.

The president stressed the need for continuing to strive to achieve the goals of political stability, economic growth and eradicating terrorism.

He informed Senator Kaybailey Hutchison and Congressman Michael Burgess about Pakistan’s comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism which combined military action with political and socio-economic measures.

President Musharraf affirmed that Pakistan was fighting terrorism in its own interest and was pursuing the right course that needed to have a political dimension and socio-economic programme.

He appreciated the US assistance for Pakistan and underscored the importance of the role of the US Appropriations Committee.