The United States says it looks forward to working with a new Pakistani government and President Pervez Musharraf.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday that the Bush administration will work with whoever emerges as Pakistan's prime minister, as well as Mr. Musharraf, who now serves as Pakistan's civilian president.
The administration also confirmed Thursday that President Bush phoned Mr. Musharraf on Tuesday, a day after his party's sweeping defeat in parliamentary elections. A spokeswoman for Mr. Bush declined to say what the two leaders discussed.
President Musharraf is considered a key ally in the U.S.-led global war on terror. With Mr. Musharraf's political future in question, the U.S. has expressed hope this week that Pakistan's emerging government will continue to be a partner in the fight against violent extremists.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.