The United States has said that its military cooperation with Pakistan will remain an 'important feature' in its relationship with Islamabad for 'cultivating good relations with regional powers', apart from reasons relating to 'war against terror'.

Addressing a gathering at the National Endowment for Democracy, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte also said that US' national security was more dependent on 'the success, security, and stability of Pakistan' now than it has ever been in the past.

Besides, he also clarified that the America's constant calling of President Pervez Musharraf [Images] as an indispensable ally in war against terror was actually a 'shorthand' reference to 'the nation of Pakistan', and that the bilateral cooperation was not 'personalised' to the former army chief.

"I want to emphasise that military cooperation will remain an important feature of that partnership, for reasons related specifically to the war on terrorism and more generally, to the value of cultivating good relations with regional powers," Negroponte said.

"During the 1990s, the estrangement between America and Pakistan created a strategic disconnect between our two militaries. A generation of United States and Pakistan military officers did not cooperate with one another as closely as they could have," the top US official said.

"So we are exploring ways to increase military exchange and training programmes to reengage with middle and senior ranking Pakistani officers, to give them experience working jointly with the US," he said.

Stressing that the withdrawal of armed forces from politics will enhance legitimacy and effectiveness of the cooperation, he said: "A more robust training and education programme will enhance Pakistans security capabilities and will help us encourage democratic values in a professionalized officer corps trained to do its job.

"We recognize that our fate -- that is, our security, our freedom, and prosperity -- is linked to the fate of the people of Pakistan, and that enabling the Pakistani government to control its territory and to govern its people justly and humanely is a national security imperative for the United States, an essential condition for success in Afghanistan, as well as the right thing to do," he said.

The top US official further said: "More than ever, our national security depends on the success, security, and stability of Pakistan. Pakistan is a vitally important nation. It is the world's third most populous Muslim state. It is a nuclear power and it is situated in a strategically crucial neighbourhood of India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China."

Terming Islamabad as a "front-line state in the battle against terrorism", Negroponte asked Pakistan's civilian and military leadership to be 'strong partners' against violent extremists in its frontier areas.

"Pakistan's government recognizes that bringing those areas under control is an urgent priority for Pakistan's own sake," he said.

However, he said that the United States 'will not be satisfied until all the violent extremism emanating from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas is brought under control'.

"It is unacceptable for extremists to use those areas to plan, train for, or execute attacks against Afghanistan, Pakistan, or the wider world," the Deputy Secretary of State said.