U.S. President Barack Obama has said he wants to deepen U.S. relations with Pakistan.
Obama made the remark on October 22 at the start of talks with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House.
Obama said the United States and Pakistan have a longstanding relationship not just on security issues, but also on scientific and economic matters.
Officials say the leaders' agenda includes U.S. financial aid to Islamabad and delayed negotiations for peace in Afghanistan.
Sharif's visit comes one week after Obama reversed his pledge to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan before he leaves office -- an acknowledgement that the endgame is not going according to plan.
The United States is urging Pakistan to play a critical role in brokering a peace deal. Obama has also warned leaders in the region against providing safe harbor to Al-Qaeda and other terrorists.
