Pak, US hold Strategic Dialogue; to discuss Indo-Pak peace

“He's taken some initiatives. He's met with his Indian counterpart. And I expect they'll want to tell us about what they see as the prospects in that regard,” an official said.

The State Department officials highlighted the importance of cooperative economic, security and energy ties between the US and Pakistan. During the dialogue, the two sides will work to “put together a blueprint of where we can take this relationship over the course of the next six months to a year,” one official said.

The officials contended that Pakistan and the US had improved their ties since 2011, when a spate of incidents like the killing of Osama bin Laden subjected it to severe strain.

“I think the relationship has become quite good between President (Barack) Obama and Prime Minister Sharif. The Prime Minister had an excellent visit (in October 2013) here, a very comprehensive set of meetings,” an official said.

US-Pakistan cooperation spans many areas and is not confined to Afghanistan, the officials said. The US also has “an interest in Pakistan's domestic security”.