Rocca was in Pakistan with a group set up by President George W. Bush to raise money for relief and reconstruction after the October 8 quake, which killed nearly 74,000 people and left more than three million homeless.

"We will continue to encourage the international community to step up and help in this long-term effort," Rocca said in an interview broadcast on a Voice of America slot on Pakistan's GEO television.

"I can't stress enough, this is going to be a long-term effort," she said.

Pakistan will host a donors' conference in Islamabad on Saturday to try to raise billions of dollars needed to rebuild quake-hit areas.

The United States has given Pakistan, a key ally in its "war on terror", 156 million dollars for the relief effort and has 975 military personnel taking part in relief operations.

The number is expected to grow to about 1,200 as winter descends on the mountainous Himalayan area, US officials have said.

About two dozen US military helicopters have also been ferrying supplies and moving people around the area.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri thanked the United States for the support in talks Tuesday with Rocca, his office said in a statement.

He also expressed appreciation for a US aid package of 698 million dollars for 2005, part of a larger sum already pledged by Washington. Islamabad would put the money towards areas including the military, development and health, the statement said.

Rocca said the quake, the worst natural disaster to hit Pakistan, had not diminished Islamabad's role in the battle against fundamentalists.

"The indications are that government of Pakistan continues to be our frontline ally in the war on terror," she said.

She also welcomed the opening of the Line of Control separating the Pakstani- and Indian-controlled sections of Kashmir to allow the distribution of quake aid.

"It is wonderful that India was able to step forward with the assistance it did. We certainly are encouraging any progress in the direction of peace," Rocca said.

India and Pakistan opened a fourth crossing along the de facto border on Monday but allowed only humanitarian supplies across and not civilians.

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