Only democratic government can eliminate terrorism: Zardari

Under pressure from the US to act against Al-Qaida and Taliban, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday promised to do so and said only a democratic government can successfully eliminate terrorism from the region.

"For no matter how long it takes and what it takes, democracies will deliver. My democracy will deliver," Zardari said in his opening remarks at start of the first day of second tri-lateral meeting of US, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Stating that Pakistan carries a huge burden, confronting Al-Qaida and Taliban together, Zardari said: "We are up to the challenge, because we are the democracy, and democracy is the only cure to this challenge."

Just as the US is making progress after seven years of engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan would also make progress over time; indicating that it is not going to finish soon.

Observing that the democracy in Pakistan is just seven months old and within that short span of time it has achieved a lot, Zardari said the US to help this grow in the country.

"We need the nurturing of democracy of the world -- the oldest, most powerful democracy of the world - the extended democracies of the world. My democracy needs attention and needs nurturing," Zardari pleaded.