US hails Pakistan's anti-terror resolve

WASHINGTON - The United States has welcomed a Pakistan government statement reaffirming, after a top-level meeting on Wednesday, its resolve  to combat terrorism and extremism with a multi-pronged strategy, wishing Islamabad success in dealing with development and security challenges.

"We see this as a very important development. It brings together all the proper players...It states very clearly the goals of ending violent extremism, ending the cross border activity and expelling the foreign fighters," Richard Boucher, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, told a congressional hearing on Pakistan on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over the security meeting in Islamabad which said Pakistan would not allow militants to attack Afghanistan from its territory and it would never let foreign troops operate on its soil.

"We want to see this new government to succeed because they represent desires of the Pakistani people and because we believe that a moderate government with a democratic mandate is the mot effective partner in the fight against violent extremism," Boucher said while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.