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Kerry says would like to visit Pakistan in near future: Pakistani foreign ministry

Xinhua, July 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday he would like to visit Pakistan in the near future to review bilateral cooperation and discuss regional issues, the Foreign Ministry said in Islamabad.

During a meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Lao capital Vientiane, Kerry exchanged views with Pakistan Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz on the regional situation with special reference to Afghanistan and agreed on the importance of promoting the Afghan-led reconciliation process.

Kerry's statement came amid tensions between the two sides on several issues including the halt of subsidized F-16 fighter planes and a U.S. drone strike that killed the Afghan Taliban chief, Akhtar Mansour in May.

Pakistan says that the U.S. attack in Balochistan province has harmed efforts for the peace process in Afghanistan.

Kerry appreciated Pakistan's determined efforts to eliminate terrorist groups in Pakistan's tribal belt with considerable success, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The U.S. secretary of state assured Sartaj Aziz that the United States is ready to improve and expand its multi-dimensional partnership with Pakistan.

The two sides also reviewed Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations. Endit