U.S. National Security Advisor James L. Jones (l) visits Faisal Masjid in Pakistan, 24 Jun 2009
U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones says the United States iscommitted to a long-term partnership with the Pakistani government andpeople.

Jones spoke Thursday in Islamabad after meeting withPakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the new U.S.strategy for the troubled region.  

The security adviser praisedPakistan for its anti-terror campaign in the northwestern Swat Valley. He said terrorism is not only an enemy of America, but a direct andurgent threat to the Pakistani people.  

Jones also said the U.S. is committed to helping resume dialogue between Pakistan and India. 

He met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani before departing for India.

Relationsbetween India and Pakistan have been strained since the Mumbai attacks,which killed more than 170 people. India has accused Pakistan-basedmilitant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as well as Pakistani intelligenceagents, of participating in the attack.

Pakistan has admitted the attacks were planned in part in its territory, but denies government agents were involved.

Jones'visit to Pakistan comes a day after the U.S. Senate approved a billthat increases non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year overthe next five years.

The unanimously approved bill alsorecommends an additional five-year, $7.5 billion aid programconditioned on political and economic improvements in the country.

TheU.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the bill earlierthis month. The House also authorized an additional $700 million tohelp Pakistani security forces fight Islamic extremists.

The two chambers now have to work out and approve a compromise bill before U.S. President Barack Obama can sign it into law.


Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.