The US urged a quick reversal of Pakistan’s controversial emergency rule and a recent crackdown as it sought to revive negotiations on Sunday for a power-sharing agreement between General Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler, and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

John Negroponte, the most senior US official to visit Pakistan since emergency rule was announced on November 3, warned that prevailing conditions could undermine elections due by January 9, which are regarded as the next milestone in a difficult journey back to democracy.