Washington: Observing that some of the "worst schools of terrorism and religious extremism" exist in Pakistan, Washington has assured Islamabad of economic assistance required to defeat terrorists.

Pakistan needs economic assistance to defeat terrorists who use the country as a hub, Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told the inaugural session of the US-Pakistan Business Council in Washington on September 30.

Stating that the Bush administration valued the help provided by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to fight terrorism, he, however, said that "unfortunately, today some of the worst schools for terrorism and religious extremism are in Pakistan."

Emphasising that terrorism cannot be fought without economic prosperity, Wolfowitz assured Pakistan that Bush administration would help "in this enormous task".

He said so far US has given $ 670 million to Pakistan to compensate for the expenses incurred in the war against terror.

"We have also provided economic assistance worth two billion dollars and are negotiating with Congress for an additional one billion dollar promised by President Bush last week when he met the Pakistani Ambassador," he said.

Wolfowitz said, "We need support from the business community as well to make this world a safer place."

In a videotaped message to the inaugural session, Musharraf urged US entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan because the country "now has a credible and competitive environment."

PTI