US wants a strong, democratic Pakistan: State Department

Wishes Malala a full and speedy recovery.

WASHINGTON: The United States’ State Department said on Saturday that the US wanted a strong and democratic Pakistan working as a partner in counter-terrorism, adding that both countries were working to restore their partnership in this regard.

"We want to see a strong, democratic Pakistan that works well with us and with the international community in addressing the terror challenges it has; that we are re-engaging after some period now in trying to get our working groups and other things back up and running to support our joint efforts to meet the terror challenge, and that is - that's the trajectory that we're on," spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.

Responding to a question regarding the Pakistan government’s reaction on the attack on Malala by the Taliban, she commented that President Asif Ali Zardari has spoken out against the attack on Malala.

"My recollection of this, and you’ll need to check, was that President Zardari spoke out the day of or the day after the attack. Let me, though, take this opportunity, first to commend the UAE, who transported her, and the UK, who are treating her for those efforts, and to express our continued hopes for her full, speedy recovery.”