The United States on Wednesday waived the sanctions imposed on Pakistan in 1999 after President Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup.  

In a statement, President George W. Bush said the lifting of the sanctions would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan and was important to the US-led war on terrorism.

With the lifting, Pakistan would be able to receive direct US economic aid.

The United States applied sanctions on Pakistan after Musharraf stunned the international community by staging a coup to seize power five years ago.

However, the two countries' relations have been greatly improved since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2000, as Pakistan has cooperated closely in the US-launched war against terrorism.

To reward Pakistan's efforts to fight the remnants of the deposed Taliban regime, the United States announced last week that Pakistan was designated as a major non-NATO ally.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2004)