Pittsburgh:
Noting that violent extremists within Pakistan pose a threat to the region and America as well, US President Barack Obama on Friday insisted that success there would require a "sustained and expanded" commitment from the international community.
"The violent extremists within Pakistan pose a threat to the region, to the United States, and to the world. Above all, they threaten the security of the Pakistani people," he said in his address to a meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan.
Held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the meeting was co-chaired by Obama along with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
"Success will require a sustained and expanded commitment from the international community. And that is why we are here today," the US President said.
Obama said the United States was firmly committed to a better future of Pakistani people, which would also advance the common security and prosperity of the two countries.
"Just as we will help Pakistan strengthen the capacity that it needs to root out violent extremists, we are also committed to working with all of you to help Pakistan improve the basic services that its people depend upon schools, roads, and hospitals," he said.