The foreign ministry issued a statement late Wednesday following Rice's visit to Islamabad where she met President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the US "war on terror".

Referring to Rice's "reported comments", the statement said the top US diplomat and Musharraf did not discuss the subject of elections, which are due in 2007.

"On the democratic processes in Pakistan, we do not require advice from outside... these matters essentially concern the people of Pakistan," the statement said on Thursday.

"There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the elections will be free and fair. This is the commitment of the leadership and government of Pakistan."

However Rice told reporters on board her flight to Islamabad that she would raise the issue of elections when she met Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

"The important thing is the world expects there to be democratic, free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007," she said. She did not mention the issue at a press conference after the meeting.

Democracy is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, especially as since becoming president, Musharraf has refused to abandon his role as chief of the powerful army.

Opposition parties want Musharraf, whose five-year term also expires in 2007, to be elected by the new parliament following elections, but his supporters say he can be elected by the current assembly.