Rediff

Iowa (USA), Aug 20: Terming Pakistan as "the most dangerous country in the world", the US' Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has slammed Bush administration for having a "Musharraf policy" instead of a policy for Pakistan.

"The fact of the matter is, Pakistan is the most dangerous, potentially the most dangerous country in the world. A significant minority of jihadists with nuclear weapons. We have no Pakistan policy; we have a Musharraf policy," chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Joseph R Biden said at a debate featuring the Democratic candidates sponsored by ABC News at the Drake University in Iowa.

"That's a bad policy. The policy should be based upon a long-term relationship with Pakistan and stability," the senator, who is also seeking Democratic Party nomination for 2008 US presidential elections, said.

Biden stressed on the need to conduct a free and fair elections in Pakistan to prevent the moderates, who are in "overwhelming majority", from going underground.

"We should be encouraging free elections. There is an overwhelming majority of moderates in that country. They should have their day. Otherwise, they are going to go underground," the powerful chair of the Senate Committee said.

During the debate, former Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards terming Musharraf as "not a wonderful leader" said, "He provides some stability in Pakistan. And there is a great risk, if he's overthrown, about a radical government taking over."

"They have a nuclear weapon. They are in constant tension with India, which also has nuclear weapons, over Kashmir. I mean, it's a dangerous, volatile situation," Edwards added.