The peace process between India and Pakistan is irreversible as there is a consensus in both countries that dialogue is the only way to settle differences, according to cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan [Images].

The Tehrik-e-Insaf leader also advocated the model of democracy followed in India, and said Pakistan should not be compared to other Islamic countries.

"Pakistan should not be compared to the rest of the Muslim world... we actually compare ourselves to India. If India can have a democratic process, if they can have 450 million people going to the polls and then have free and fair elections, so can we," he said.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic Studies, Khan slammed the US for "backing one man rather than the democratic process as this strategy was deeply flawed".

He asked the US to insist that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] reinstate an independent judiciary to supervise the February 18 general elections. "That is the only way to get out of the quagmire" he said.

Khan, who is in Washington for the last few days, has met with top lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives but not with officials of the Bush administration.

Talking about relations between India and Pakistan, Khan said it has undergone a sea change after the Kargil 'misadventure'. "The peace process with India is irreversible. There will be hiccups but it will be on the table," he said.

"I believe there is a consensus in Pakistan and in India where people have realised that we cannot settle our differences through guns. There is a consensus that we have to settle our differences through a dialogue," Khan said.