Hillary Clinton: U.S. to further help Pakistan improve security

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here on Friday that the United States would help Pakistan further improve security.

Delivering a keynote speech at the American Pakistan Foundation's inaugural benefit, Clinton said "we must go further in two areas: helping Pakistan strengthen its democratic institutions and improving security by defeating the extremists groups who are waging a campaign of violence against Pakistan and threatening stability in South Asia and beyond."

Speaking to a large audience of some 800, the secretary said "stronger democratic institutions will help Pakistani government to become more responsive to its citizens, to build broad support for future government initiatives, and to ensure that the needs of all the Pakistani people are taken into account, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are."

The United States has significantly increased civilian aid to Pakistan to support this progress toward a stronger democracy, said Clinton, adding "we are also increasing the size of our USAID mission in Pakistan."

On the security situation in Pakistan, Clinton said "the numbers of innocent men, women, and children killed in senseless attacks by extremists continue to rise."

However, she said she was pleased to see that the Pakistani military had taken on the fight against the Pakistani Taliban, and the United States had "increased our efforts to help."

She, however, warned that other terrorist groups had set up camp in Pakistan and were plotting global attacks and waging wars against the international security assistance forces from 42 nations in Afghanistan.

The secretary spoke highly of Pakistan's role in fighting extremist groups, saying "Pakistan has a critical role, and an abiding interest, in helping this international effort."

"We will continue to encourage the Pakistani government to take affirmative steps toward the goal of disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups responsible for so much suffering in Pakistan and around the world," she said.

Clinton pledged that the United States would abide by a paramount principle of full respect for Pakistan's sovereignty, saying "we come as a partner not a patron."

The secretary also spoke about the U.S. government's commitment to a strengthened partnership with the Pakistani American community for a stable and prosperous Pakistan.

U.S. Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell and Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Moeen Qureshi served as honorary co-chairs of the inaugural benefit and the foundation.