WASHINGTON: The US State Department said on Friday that Washington would welcome increased cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

“We have been working closely with all levels of the Pakistan government and stand ready to provide assistance as necessary,” the department’s spokesperson Jen Psaki told a briefing in Washington.

“And we, of course, would welcome increased cooperation as well with the government,” she added.

Earlier, the White House had also offered to strengthen “a very important” counter-terrorism relationship with Pakistan.

And this week, US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to express America’s “unwavering support for the Pakistani people” in the fight against extremism.

The same day US Secretary of State John Kerry also called the prime minister, reaffirming “solidarity and support … at this difficult time of mourning for the Pakistani people”.

At a White House news briefing, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the United States had “a very important counterterrorism relationship with Pakistan” and hoped that this relationship would “endure, primarily because it significantly benefits the citizens of both Pakistan and the United States.”

“I can tell you that that kind of assistance that you’re referring to has been offered,” said Mr Earnest when a journalist asked if the United States was offering more than blood and prayers for victims of the Peshawar massacre.

“This is a situation that’s only very recently been resolved and I anticipate that we’ll continue to be in touch with Pakistani leaders in the days ahead,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2014