"We are working very hard to have an understanding with our counterparts in Pakistan about the best way forward," Clinton told reporters in response to a question in a joint media availability with the visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand.

"Just in the past few days, I have spoken to senior Pakistani leaders, including President (Asif Ali) Zardari, Prime Minister (Yusuf Raza) Gillani, Army Chief of Staff General (Ashfaq Pervez) Kayani. Special Representative Marc Grossman will be in Pakistan later to continue more detailed consultations," she said.

Clinton said that there were important concerns and many questions that had to be addressed and worked through.

She said she was in constant touch with Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who has just returned from a two-day trip to Pakistan.

"But, I would just remind us all that in recent years our cooperation between our governments, our militaries, our law enforcement agencies, has increased pressure on al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and we want that progress to continue," she said.

"Going forward, the US 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 said.

The US Secretary of State said that she was not going to comment on any specific issue that Senator Kerry referred to in any of his public remarks, but the US was going to work very hard to ensure that there is a path forward that continues the progress and answers a lot of the concerns that both sides have at this point.