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John Kerry begins key Pakistan Nawaz Sharif talks US and Pakistan to resume key high-level security talks
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has held talks in Pakistan with newly-elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. US Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed to resume high-level talks over security issues with Pakistan.
The closed-door talks focused on the economy and security ahead of Nato's withdrawal from Afghanistan next year, officials said. The agreement was made after Mr Kerry met senior Pakistani politicians, including new PM Nawaz Sharif.
Details of the negotiations will be made available later on Thursday. The talks were stalled after 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in US air strikes on a Pakistani post on the Afghan border in 2011.
Mr Kerry is expected to try to ease tension over controversial US drone strikes against suspected militants, correspondents say. Relations were also strained by the US killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in May of that year.
Speaking after the talks on Thursday, Mr Kerry said they were "constructive" and "positive".
He said the two sides were serious about overcoming past irritants and that he had invited the new prime minister to Washington to meet US President Barack Obama.
The secretary of state said the common interests of Pakistan and the US outweighed any differences they had.
"The Pakistan-US relationship is not defined by threats we face and is not just about counter-terrorism, but about the economic revival of Pakistan," he said.
He emphasised their relationship was strong enough to withstand threats from the extremists.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the resumption of the "strategic dialogue'' indicates that their relationship has improved since the low points of 2011 and is now on course to normalisation after nearly three years of bad blood.
The closed-door talks between Mr Kerry and Mr Sharif focused on the economy, Pakistan's energy shortages and security ahead of Nato's withdrawal from Afghanistan next year, officials said.
Mr Kerry insisted the US was "drawing down, not withdrawing" from Afghanistan and that he was confident Washington would reach agreement on future troop levels with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Mr Kerry also strove to ease tension over controversial US drone strikes against suspected militants.
CIA strikes killed up to 3,460 people in Pakistan between 2004 and 2013.CIA strikes killed up to 3,460 people in Pakistan between 2004 and 2013.
The troubled border region of North Waziristan is considered an al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold and US drones regularly target the area.The troubled border region of North Waziristan is considered an al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold and US drones regularly target the area.
But Mr Sharif, who won elections in May, has demanded an end to such attacks, saying they violate his country's sovereignty. Mr Sharif, who won elections in May, has demanded an end to such attacks, saying they violate his country's sovereignty.
Parts of the Pakistani government and military have often been accused of criticising the use of drones in public, but co-operating in private.
Earlier this year, Mr Obama said the strikes were part of a legitimate campaign against terrorism, but he also pledged more transparency and stricter targeting rules.Earlier this year, Mr Obama said the strikes were part of a legitimate campaign against terrorism, but he also pledged more transparency and stricter targeting rules.
'Historic transition''Historic transition'
The US secretary of state is also expected to hold talks with Pakistani army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and President Ali Asif Zardari in Islamabad on Thursday. The US secretary of state also held talks with Pakistani army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and President Ali Asif Zardari in Islamabad on Thursday.
It is Mr Kerry's first trip to Pakistan as secretary of state, although he has a long history of dealing with Pakistan as former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.It is Mr Kerry's first trip to Pakistan as secretary of state, although he has a long history of dealing with Pakistan as former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Before the pair began their talks Mr Sharif described him as "a wonderful friend", while Mr Kerry replied that he "had the pleasure of visiting Mr Sharif's home and having a number of meals with him''. Before the pair began their talks, Mr Sharif described him as "a wonderful friend", while Mr Kerry replied that he "had the pleasure of visiting Mr Sharif's home and having a number of meals with him''.
The secretary of state paid tribute to Mr Sharif's victory at the polls. It marked the first time that an elected civilian Pakistani government completed a full term in office and handed over to another.The secretary of state paid tribute to Mr Sharif's victory at the polls. It marked the first time that an elected civilian Pakistani government completed a full term in office and handed over to another.
"This is a historic transition that just took place. Nobody should diminish it," he told US embassy staff."This is a historic transition that just took place. Nobody should diminish it," he told US embassy staff.
"I think President Zardari deserves credit. It is historic. In the 66-year history of Pakistan that has never happened. So change comes over time," he added.
Correspondents say that relations between Pakistan and the US have recovered somewhat following the crisis sparked by the US killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011.
The economy, and Pakistan's energy shortages are also likely to discussed by Mr Kerry and Pakistan's new prime minister.
US officials travelling with Mr Kerry said Pakistan - although still formulating its counter-terrorism strategy following a spate of militant attacks - is likely to continue clampdowns on militants, but also engage them in talks.US officials travelling with Mr Kerry said Pakistan - although still formulating its counter-terrorism strategy following a spate of militant attacks - is likely to continue clampdowns on militants, but also engage them in talks.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Islamabad says Washington wants to stress to Mr Sharif that extremism is a threat to both his own plans to strengthen the economy and a concern for the US, which has troops based in neighbouring Afghanistan. The last visit by a US secretary of state was in 2011, after Osama Bin Laden was killed.
The issue of drone strikes remains hugely controversial in Pakistan, where parts of the government and military have often been accused of criticising the use of drones in public, but co-operating in private.
Observers say Mr Kerry hopes to put a fresh focus on America's relations with Pakistan.
The last visit by a US secretary of state was in 2011, after al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US raid in north-west Pakistan.
Ties between Washington and Islamabad were at breaking point then, our correspondent says.
But while the relationship remains difficult, it is considerably less tense now, partly because Pakistan's domestic politics have settled down, our correspondent adds.