WASHINGTON: Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins will continue the dialogue with Pakistani leaders as Secretary of State John Kerry wraps up a key visit to the country, says the State Department.

A State Department spokesperson, Marie Harf, told a briefing that Ambassador Dobbins was already in the region for meeting Afghan and Pakistani leaders.

Before joining Secretary Kerry in Islamabad, Ambassador Dobbins was in Kabul where he met Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

His discussions in the region include “Afghanistan’s coming economic and political transitions, including the 2014 elections, as well as, of course, reconciliation and other topics of regional interest,” Ms Harf said.

Despite repeated attempts by journalists, the US official refused to criticise Pakistani for allegedly continuing to allow the smuggling of IED-making materials into Afghanistan.

“We have very good cooperation on counter-terrorism issues with the Pakistanis,” she said when asked if the current dialogue would also include US concerns on IEDs. “Obviously, we’ll continue to talk about issues of cross-border militancy and the reality that safe havens that threaten both Pakistan and Afghanistan and US interests and regional stability are operating in that area,” she said. “So we’re going to continue working with the Pakistanis on this issue going forward.”

Asked if the United States would review its drone policy to accommodate Pakistan’s concerns on the air strikes, Ms Harf said: “Broadly speaking, we are going to continue working with the Pakistanis on counter-terrorism in the region. And beyond that, I have nothing further.”

The United States, she said, would focus on “regional security” in its discussions with Pakistan and counter-terrorism will be a part of those talks.

Meanwhile, diplomatic observers in Washington said that the US position on drones should not overshadow America’s willingness to rebuild its ties with Pakistan.

They pointed out that in the days preceding Secretary Kerry’s visit to Islamabad, the White House and the Pentagon joined the State Department in conveying their desire to rebuild those ties.

“Our relationship with Pakistan is extremely important to America's national security interests,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

“It is a complicated but important relationship,” he added.

The White House official also underlined “our joint efforts to fight terrorism” while pointing out that “Pakistanis have been among the most significant victims of terrorist attacks.”