US President Barack Obama has said that violent extremists within Pakistan pose a threat to the region and America. Addressing a meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan at the UN headquarters in New York, he said success against extremism in Pakistan will require a sustained and expanded commitment from the international community. Mr. Obama said, the United States is firmly committed to help Pakistan strengthen the capacity that it needs to root out violent extremists. He also expressed his country's commitment to work towards improving the basic services like schools, roads, and hospitals that Pakistani people need. Mr Obama said, the US will also work with the Pakistani government to make its institutions more transparent and responsive, so that assistance reaches the people who need it.The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Obama along with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Friends of Democratic Pakistan group — whose members include the United States, Britain, China, France, the UN, the European Union and the World Bank — aims to assist economic and social development in Pakistan.