London: The Commonwealth re-admitted Pakistan today (May 22, 2004), welcoming the country's progress on Democratic reform since a military coup more than four years ago.

However, the Ministerial Action Group, composed of officials from nine Commonwealth countries, noted, "Continuing concerns in regard to the strengthening of the Democratic process in Pakistan" and said the country would be subject to continued monitoring.

The 53-nation grouping suspended Pakistan from its decision-making councils in 1999, after Gen Pervez Musharraf, now the country's President, toppled the country's elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.