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US and Pakistan seek better ties US and Pakistan vow better ties
(about 12 hours later)
The US and Pakistan are beginning a new chapter in relations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. The US and Pakistan have promised to start a new partnership in an effort to overcome "years of misunderstandings", the US secretary of state has said.
She was speaking in Washington at the start of talks with her Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "It's a new day," Hillary Clinton said after talks in Washington with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Mistrust between the US and Pakistan, a key ally in the war against militants, has reached new lows in recent months. Mr Qureshi meanwhile said he expected the US to pay by the end of June nearly $2bn in military aid it owes Pakistan.
Mrs Clinton acknowledged there had been disagreements. Mr Qureshi said it was time to look forward. Security, energy and economic ties will be discussed. Mistrust between the two countries has reached new lows in recent months.
"It is the start of something new," said Mrs Clinton as two days of meetings got under way in the US capital. This has been fuelled by a surge in US drone strikes near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan says.
"Our countries have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past and there are sure to be more disagreements in the future." For its part, the US wants Pakistan to do more to combat militants.
Mr Qureshi said an improved relationship between the two countries "is good for Pakistan, good for America and good for international peace, security and prosperity".
He also sought a "constructive" US role on disputed Kashmir and "non-discriminatory" access to energy.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan says recent mistrust between the two sides has been fuelled by a surge in US drone strikes near the Afghan border. Pakistan also complains that promised US aid has not been delivered.
For its part the US wants Pakistan to do more to combat militants and says hundreds of visas for US officials have been withheld.
Nuclear issueNuclear issue
The two sides are holding a week-long "strategic dialogue". Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and the head of the ISI intelligence agency Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha are also taking part, as are top US defence officials. At the end of the first of two days of high-level talks, Mrs Clinton and Mr Qureshi announced that the US-Pakistan relationship had evolved into a partnership covering a range of security and development programmes.
"Today, I am a happy man, a satisfied man," Mr Qureshi told reporters. "We have upgraded the dialogue."
We have made it very clear that this strategic dialogue is in Pakistan's interests and in the United States' interest Hillary ClintonUS Secretary of State
He said a "substantial" amount of the outstanding military aid would be paid by the end of April, with the remainder coming by the end of June - the same time as an IMF performance review is due on its $7.6bn loan package for Pakistan.
He also said the US had agreed to put Pakistani requests for military equipment on a "fast track" as they increased security co-operation.
Mrs Clinton said the dialogue meant the expansion of the current security focus to include energy, development, education and agriculture.
She expressed hope that the new partnership "stands the test of time", but cautioned that it would not always be easy.
"Our countries have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past, and there are sure to be more disagreements in the future."
Mrs Clinton insisted the US was committed to helping Pakistan with its chronic power shortages.
However when asked about a possible deal on civilian nuclear co-operation deal, like the one it signed with India, she merely said: "We will listen to and engage with our Pakistani partners."
Pakistan's military chief (left) is taking part in the talksPakistan's military chief (left) is taking part in the talks
Our correspondent says one of the main issues for discussion will be possible nuclear co-operation between the two sides. While some sort of understanding between on two sides is possible, any concrete nuclear accord is unlikely, our correspondent says.
Pakistan has long wanted the US to provide it with a civilian nuclear deal, similar to the one given to India.
Pakistani leaders say such co-operation would go a long way in helping the country deal with its current power shortage.
While some sort of understanding between on two sides is possible, any concrete accord is unlikely, our correspondent says.
Continued fears over Pakistan's proliferation record remain a major stumbling block. In particular, US officials want to question Dr AQ Khan, the disgraced former head of Pakistan's nuclear programme.Continued fears over Pakistan's proliferation record remain a major stumbling block. In particular, US officials want to question Dr AQ Khan, the disgraced former head of Pakistan's nuclear programme.
Dr Khan admitted to being involved in the transfer of nuclear technology to countries such as Iran and North Korea, which oppose the US. Dr Khan admitted to being involved in the transfer of nuclear technology to countries such as Iran and North Korea.
Earlier this week Pakistan's government sought court permission to question Dr Khan over what it says is new information which has come to light about his role in proliferation. Earlier this week Pakistan's government sought court permission to question Dr Khan over what it says is new information about his role in proliferation.
The application is being heard in Lahore high court while talks continue between Mrs Clinton and Mr Qureshi. The application is being heard in the high court in Lahore.
Pakistan and the US are holding a week-long "strategic dialogue".
Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and the head of the ISI intelligence agency Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha are also taking part.