Washington: Describing Pakistan as one of the "most dangerous countries" and charging it with having "misled" the world on its nuclear activities, almost all US (United States) Presidential aspirants from the Democratic Party want the American policy towards Islamabad to be tougher, a media report said.

"Most believe General (Pervez) Musharraf has not been an "honest ally", the 'Saturday Tribune' said in a special report which carried the transcript of a debate on America's National Public Radio channel earlier this month.

The participants in the debate included six Democrats who hope to challenge President George W Bush in the upcoming Presidential elections. They are Governor Howard Dean-Vermont, Congressman Dick Gephardt -Missouri, Senator John Kerry-Massachussetts, Congressman Dennis Kucinich -Ohio, Senator Joe Lieberman-Connecticut and former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun-Illinois.

According to the transcript published by 'Saturday Tribune', run by a Pakistani journalist, Kerry was quoted as saying, "Pakistan has, frankly, misled the United States and the world with respect to its proliferation responsibilities for years. I am convinced we can be tougher with Pakistan."

"The spectre of an Islamic radical State with nuclear weapons is unacceptable for the world and that is what is at risk in Pakistan today. There are steps that we could now take to deal with the Northwest component, where Osama bin Laden is. We know he's up there. We have not pushed hard enough," Kerry was quoted as saying.