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. He expressed support for the elected government and added the democratic dispensation is at the core of Washington's strategy for working with the South Asian country. The U.S. security is inextricably linked to success and stability of democratic Pakistan, he added. Boucher, who is set to go to Pakistan next week, referred to major priorities of the government including overcoming food and energy shortages and achieving economic development and said: "Our support to these efforts is critical to success and stability of Pakistan as a nation and therefore we will continue to pursue long-term comprehensive partnership with Pakistan that seeks to address their most important needs and strengthens our relations with democratic allies and partners." Boucher renewed Washington's backing for strengthening democratic institutions and modernizing security services and education system of the country and added the U.S. is working with it in a number of areas to get rid of conditions that breed extremism. "We want to help the new leaders to modernize the nation, its democratic institutions, its economy to provide jobs to its citizens, the education system and modernize the security services to that they can effectively fight terrorism." The assistant secretary applauded the proposal of Senator Joseph Biden, who presided over the committee meeting, on extending long-term assistance for socio-economic development of the country. Boucher urged bipartisan congressional commitment to long-term relationship with Pakistan. Senator Biden called for assuring Pakistanis of a long-term relationship and acknowledged the South Asian nation's importance to U.S. security interests. Opening the hearing on "A New Strategy for Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan," Biden said the two countries should move away from transaction relations to a long-term partnership, covering both security and non-security fields. He renewed his resolve to work towards tripling non-security aid for Pakistan to $ 1.5 billion a year, adding such assistance would be absolutely unconditional. In this context, he also cited Congressional approval for new $ 150 million assistance for the country in the next fiscal year, calling it down-payment of the "democracy dividend" promised to Pakistan for its successful democratic transition. The new assistance, Biden said, will help the democratic leaders deliver services for their people. He favoured taking into account Pakistani interests in bilateral relations consideration but opined that security assistance should be commensurate with its performance. At the same time, he acknowledged that Pakistan army is competent and has many brave fighters and supported augmenting its counterterrorism capacity.