The US said it faces a "problem" in Pakistan when many believed that America supports the military government in that country without caring for its people and their opinion.

"I do think we have a problem in Pakistan when people think that we've been supportive of the military government without caring about Pakistani democracy. But it simply isn't true," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [Images] said.

The US has struck a proper balance in Pakistan to bring about a "moderate centre" by working with the government for democracy and free elections, she said.

"We did not change our position from that moment when the need for free and fair elections in Pakistan arose. While we felt that we had to work with the Musharraf government for counter-terrorism, we have also been helping Musharraf to bring Pakistan back from the edge of going over to extremism. I think we struck a moderate balance in Pakistan," Rice said.

"I now think, with the Pakistanis having made the transition, we can do more to help sustain democratic institutions in Pakistan and to work towards that. And in fact, we're looking at what kind of assistance that we might require," she said.

"What is disheartening to me is that many felt that our policy on Pakistan is a well-guarded secret. It seems not many understood that we started speaking out for free and fair elections from the very beginning that we pressed the military government on the shedding of uniform and moving to civilian control as soon as those free and fair elections could be held.

"We worked hard to try to bring about a moderate centre, working with Benazir Bhutto [Images] and Musharraf and others to try to bring about that centre, so that when the elections were held, you could get the kind of effects that you expect," Rice said addressing an advisory committee on democracy promotion in Pakistan.

She said extremist parties in the country got a major defeat, particularly in the frontier areas.