Voicing its support for Pakistan's efforts to deal with terrorism, the US on Thursday said that it will work with its south Asian ally in tackling terrorist threats.
"If either side has any actionable intelligence about any threat, the US and Pakistan will work together to meet the threat," said US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.
He said that America supported Pakistan in its efforts to deal with the challenges of extremism and terrorism. "Terrorists are harming Pakistan. There have been Taliban and al-Qaeda-type attacks on Pakistani security forces and innocent civilians," he said.
The US official expressed hope that the jirga, the recently-concluded meeting between tribal leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan, would promote peace and security in the border areas.
Speaking about the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan, Boucher said that President Pervez Musharraf was committed to holding free, fair and transparent elections.
The US also wanted Pakistan's smooth transition to democracy, said Boucher, but the political parties and the election commission in Pakistan would have to take the requisite measures to ensure transparent polls.
Boucher expressed confidence that a new bill passed by the US Congress -- linking financial assistance to a country to its contribution in the war against terror -- would not affect US assistance to Pakistan.
Strategic dialogue between the two countries would take place early next month, during which discussions on a broad range of topics were expected. Boucher said that Washington has committed $750 million over five years for development programmes in Pakistan's tribal areas. These programmes aimed to improve the infrastructure and healthcare in these areas and create more economic opportunities.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, who held talks with Boucher on Thursday, said that he had briefed the American official about the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan peace jirga.
According to Sherpao, Boucher had expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the jirga and hoped that it would improve people-to-people contact.
"Boucher said that the jirga meeting has developed a positive image of the two countries in the USA," said Sherpao.
The interior minister also briefed the US assistant secretary about the law and order situation in the country, the Lal Masjid issue, the prevailing situation in tribal areas and counter-terrorism and narcotics measures.
Boucher said that the US government was working with the Congress to get an approval for the Reconstruction Opportunities Zone project. These ROZs would be established in the tribal areas of Pakistan in September.
Musharraf had urged US President George W Bush to implement the ROZs when the latter visited Islamabad in March 2006. The legislation will allow Islamabad to export textiles and other goods without paying US duties.
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