WASHINGTON, Oct 18: US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca told reporters on Saturday that the United States appreciates the support it received from Pakistan during a recent debate on Iraq in the United Nations.

“We appreciate Pakistan’s support in the UN. This support would help make it possible for Iraqi people to build a nation that is stable, secure and free,” Ms Rocca added.

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday aimed endorsing a US request for more troops and money to help stabilize Iraq, a diplomatic victory for Washington.

Pakistan was among those 15 Security Council members who voted for the UN resolution.

Pakistan is among those countries that supported the United States, besides China and Syria.

Talking to reporters in Washington, a senior US official said that for the countries that want to send troops to Iraq, the resolution “helps them to be able to do it.”

“This does at least open up the possibility of countries now stating their domestic considerations whether or not they would be able to send troops,” he added.

But the official acknowledged that “a lot of countries have concerns, restrictions that would probably minimize their ability to participate.”

The official pointed out that not many countries could afford to send troops to a combat zone. “Now the truth of the matter is there’s not much combat power in the world,” he added.