WASHINGTON, Feb 8: Pakistan has proven to be a dedicated ally of the United States since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, says the vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani returned to Washington this week after visiting Pakistan where he met senior military officials to gauge the strength of Islamabad's resolve against terror.

“Pakistan was right there after the United States and coalition forces began major combat operations in Afghanistan with substantial assistance to the United States,” he told the Pentagon news service.

Admiral Giambastiani's eight-day tour included Iraq and Afghanistan as well. He acknowledged that Pakistani forces have had a hard time trying to control the area that borders Afghanistan but” they have been a good and strong partner in the war on terrorism.”

Admiral Giambastiani said Pakistanis have demonstrated their intent in the war on terror by deploying soldiers to the Federally-administered Tribal Areas (Fata) for the first time in the nation’s 60-year history to fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban forces.