LAHORE, Aug 20: US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell says there is a need to tackle violence and extremism within Pakistan. "Recent assassination attempts on Pakistan's civilian and military leaders, as well as sectarian violence that continues to take the lives of innocent Pakistanis point to the need to tackle violence and extremism within Pakistan," she told members of the Lahore Gymkhana here on Friday.

In her address (which was faxed to newspaper offices in the form of a text), the ambassador reviewed in detail US policy towards Pakistan. She welcomed recent arrests of leaders of banned extremist organizations as an indication of Islamabad's resolve in fighting terrorism within Pakistan.

In addition, she said, Pakistani military forces were engaged in a major combat to capture or kill foreign militants who were hiding in the mountainous, historically off-limits tribal areas of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

"There have been significant success in South Waziristan, rendering large areas inhospitable to terrorists. We hope that these efforts, taken in coordination with Afghan and US forces in Afghanistan, will continue so that the entire border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is secure."

Powell said the US appreciated the sacrifice that had been made by Pakistani forces in these areas and grieved with those family members who had lost sons, husbands, and fathers in these efforts.

According to her, strong bilateral relations between US and Pakistan were in the interest of both the countries. She said that policy of close relationship between the two countries was also supported by Republicans and Democrats in the US congress and by the "Bi-partisan 9/11 Commission."

Referring to US foreign policy viz-a-viz Pakistan, Ambassador Powell said four broad areas constituted our foreign policy priorities towards Pakistan which were:

- Continuing our common efforts in the global war on terrorism,

- Supporting ongoing efforts among the states in the region to enhance regional stability,

- Helping Pakistan to strengthen economic, social and political development and,

- Building bridges between our two nations' peoples in order to foster greater mutual understanding between us.

The ambassador said the US was working with Pakistan and Afghanistan to help secure the porous border. But much of the work in reducing tensions, she said, must be undertaken by Pakistan and Afghanistan bilaterally.

With regard to Pakistan and India, Powell said The United States welcomed the recent agreement between India and Pakistan to pursue a wide-ranging composite dialogue with the objective of reaching a peaceful settlement on all bilateral issues, including Kashmir.

The American ambassador said ending violence in Kashmir remained a key part of furthering this process. About the US aid, Powell said her government had decided to continue its contribution to the preservation of important Mughal monuments like the Wazir Khan mosque in Lahore. She also gave details of other areas where the US was extending cooperation to Pakistan.

Earlier, the US ambassador announced a $60,000 grant to a Lahore-based non-governmental organisation for an English teaching project. For that she visited MC Girls High School in Kot Khwaja Saeed. The grant will enable CARE, the NGO, to start teaching English to 60 students from under-privileged urban neighbourhoods in Lahore.