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WASHINGTON (US): Stating that designation of Pakistan as Major Non-NATO Ally "essentially signals commitment to a long-term relationship between the United States and Pakistan," senior U.S. officials Thursday said Pakistan is a stable nation- with a Prime Minister and an elected government.

Commenting on the eventful U.S. Presidential Memorandum issued Tuesday, the sources said, it fact, it is a continuation of the announcement made earlier by Secretary of State Colin Powell, as the proposal made its way through the laid down bureaucratic procedures.

Long-term Ties

With Pakistan, the United States has a longterm relationship, and the announcement confirms this, they said.

In response to a question on South Waziristn, the officials were all praise for Pakistan for "a very serious effort" in the Wana operation, in which "Pakistan is taking casualties." "It's not an everyday matter."

Wana Operation

Pakistan's military approach was to flush out the terrorist elements suspected to be hiding in the area near Pakistan-Afghan border, which "is highly appreciable."

The officials said, there is no doubt that it was in the interest of Pakistan, not only of the United States, that there is no presence left of al-Qaeda or Taliban elements in the tribal areas.

"It's a matter of its future stability" that Pakistan area was not allowed to become "a sanctuary for terrorists," the officials said, adding: "How they go about it, it's for Pakistan to decide."

"We have seen the operation going on very well there. The military approach is to flush out the terrorist elements from the tribal area. It is not every day matter. They are taking casualties."