US working hard for understanding with Pakistan on way forward: Clinton

WASHINGTON: The United States is striving to have an understanding with Pakistan on way forward that continues anti-militant progress in the region and "answers a lot of the concerns that both sides have at this point," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

She indicated intensive diplomatic engagement between the two countries in the weeks ahead as they seek to salvage the relationship - seen critical to US success in Afghanistan - and overcome tensions arising in the wake of Osama bin Laden's discovery in Abbottabad and the May 2 US unilateral action to take al-Qaeda leader out.

"We are working very hard to have an understanding with our counterparts in Pakistan about the best way forward," Clinton told reporters Tuesday after meeting New Zealand's foreign minister.

She spoke as Senator John Kerry returned from a visit to Islamabad during which both countries signaled their agreement on building trust and bilateral ties.

In her media interaction at the State Department, the top American diplomat would not comment specifically on any issue between the two countries.

But, she stressed "we're going to be working very hard in the days and weeks ahead to ensure that we have a path forward that continues the progress and answers a lot of the concerns that both sides have at this point."

Clinton, who is expected to travel to Islamabad in the near future, noted that just in the past few days, she has spoken to senior Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, Army Chief of Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

In the coming days, US Special Representative for the region, Marc Grossman will be in Pakistan "to continue more detailed consultations."

"And obviously, there are important concerns and many questions that have to be addressed and worked through," she remarked.

At the same time, the diplomat reminded that "in recent years our cooperation between our governments, our militaries, our law enforcement agencies, has increased pressure on al-Qaida and the Taliban, and we want that progress to continue."

Going forward, she pledged, the Obama Administration is "committed to supporting the people and the Government of Pakistan as they defend their own democracy from the constant attacks by violent extremists."

Clinton had praise for Senator Kerry's efforts in Islamabad and said she had been in close touch with him before and during the lawmaker's trip.

"I appreciate very much his delivering to the Pakistanis, in his capacity as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a clear perspective on the concerns of the United States Congress."

For his part, Kerry, presiding a hearing on Pakistan, cautioned against one-sided perspectives on US-Pakistan relations and advocated that Congress take a holistic view of the US-Pakistan relationship.

"It is not simple. Fifty percent of our supplies that go to our effort in Afghanistan go through Pakistan. That route belongs to them," he stated.

While urging patience on devising a way forwad, Kerry hinted at steps both in Islamabad and Washington as they work to bolster cooperation for success in Afghanistan in the coming days.

"I am not at liberty to speak of all things that we will do in specific terms-- but I am encouraged --- there is great ability here to actually shift the dynamics of the entire relationship between Afghanistan-Pakistan and Pakistan-United States and all three and India and ultimately change the longer term strategic interest of the region but that will depend on quiet and effective diplomacy over the course of next weeks.

The remarks Tuesday by the chief US diplomat and the influential senator reflected realization in Washington about the strategic importance of Pakistan. The American media also weighed in on the key significance of Pakistan particularly in view of the fact that Islamabad has close ties with rising superpower China as evident from Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's ongoing visit to Beijing.