WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama wants the United States and Pakistan to continue to work together for achieving their common goals of defeating terrorism and building a stable and peaceful Pakistan, says the White House.
A brief statement, issued by the White House on Thursday, said Mr Obama conveyed this message to Pakistan's new Ambassador Sherry Rehman who presented her credentials to the US president on Wednesday.
The White House statement pointed out that usually it did not provide readouts of such formal meetings but it was making an exception because of the media's interest in Ambassador Rehman's meeting with the president.
'The president welcomed Ambassador Rehman to Washington and expressed his desire that our two governments continue to work closely together towards our shared objectives of defeating Al Qaeda, combating violent extremism, and supporting a stable and peaceful Pakistan, Afghanistan and wider region,' the statement said.
The brief statement covers almost all significant points of a relationship which has continued to strain since the May 2 US raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad and received another major jolt on Nov 26 when Nato aircraft bombed Pakistani military posts and killed 24 soldiers.
After the attack, Pakistan ordered a parliamentary review of its relations with the United States, but Ambassador Rehman has dismissed suggestions that the review would have a negative impact on bilateral relations.
"The review will present an opportunity for both countries to reset ties on more consistent, transparent and predictable lines," she said.
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