<p>The US has pressed Pakistan to act against the extremists groups, including al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network, who threaten them as well as the region and sought reopening of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday in Chicago on the sidelines of the crucial NATO Summit focusing Afghanistan.<br /><br />"They discussed the importance of reopening the NATO supply lines; of taking joint action against the extremists who threaten Pakistan, the United States, and the region, including al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network," a US State Department official said after the nearly hour-long meeting between the two leaders.<br /><br />They also discussed the importance of "supporting Afghanistan's security, stability, and efforts toward reconciliation; and of concluding negotiations for a US-Pakistan Bilateral Investment Treaty," the official said.<br /><br />The two sides are at loggerheads over issue of reopening the NATO supply routes to Afghanistan, closed last November by Pakistan after an air raid killed 24 of its soldiers.<br />The official said that the US is committed to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship built on concrete actions to enhance the security and prosperity of Pakistan, the United States, and the region.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Pakistani presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the two leaders discussed the issue of CIA drone strikes and delay in payment of coalition support fund.<br /><br />President Zardari noted that due to the trust deficit, it would be difficult for Islamabad to rejoin counter-terrorism co-operation with the international community, Babar said.<br />"Bridging the trust-deficit, the President said, was a must for Pakistan re-joining counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community," he added.</p>
<p>The US has pressed Pakistan to act against the extremists groups, including al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network, who threaten them as well as the region and sought reopening of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday in Chicago on the sidelines of the crucial NATO Summit focusing Afghanistan.<br /><br />"They discussed the importance of reopening the NATO supply lines; of taking joint action against the extremists who threaten Pakistan, the United States, and the region, including al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network," a US State Department official said after the nearly hour-long meeting between the two leaders.<br /><br />They also discussed the importance of "supporting Afghanistan's security, stability, and efforts toward reconciliation; and of concluding negotiations for a US-Pakistan Bilateral Investment Treaty," the official said.<br /><br />The two sides are at loggerheads over issue of reopening the NATO supply routes to Afghanistan, closed last November by Pakistan after an air raid killed 24 of its soldiers.<br />The official said that the US is committed to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship built on concrete actions to enhance the security and prosperity of Pakistan, the United States, and the region.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Pakistani presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the two leaders discussed the issue of CIA drone strikes and delay in payment of coalition support fund.<br /><br />President Zardari noted that due to the trust deficit, it would be difficult for Islamabad to rejoin counter-terrorism co-operation with the international community, Babar said.<br />"Bridging the trust-deficit, the President said, was a must for Pakistan re-joining counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community," he added.</p>