‘We are going to do everything we can to speak directly to the people of Pakistan. I’m specifically here to reverse some of those misperceptions. I feel very strongly about it,’ said Ms Clinton at a joint media conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office after their meeting.

Ms Clinton, who is believed to be on a major charm exercise and will be meeting politicians, civil society representatives, businessmen, media personnel and high-ranking government functionaries, besides holding a couple of town hall meetings, emphasised that she ‘hoped to build a new relationship based on mutual respect and mutually shared responsibility’ and foster a partnership between the people of the two countries.

Absent from her media interaction was the usual lecturing and tough messages US officials have normally been carrying with them during their Islamabad visits.

The secretary of state said she sought to deepen relations with Pakistan and find new opportunities for partnership with the private sector, including universities, NGOs, civil society organisations and religious institutions.

‘People-to-people (contact) is the kind of diplomacy that has biggest benefits.’ Ms Clinton will also visit some cultural, religious and historical sites during her three-day stay.

Growing criticism in Pakistan of the US approach towards the country and doubts about some of its plans for the region set alarm bells ringing in Washington as it is feared that losing public support in Pakistan may make it difficult to put up a strong fight against militants and terrorists in Afghanistan.

Secretary Clinton cautioned against playing up the differences, some of which made media headlines recently.

‘Let us discuss and air the differences as friends and partners and let us not magnify them to the extent of exclusion of many areas of agreement and cooperation.’

She was confident about the success of her mission, which is being seen by diplomatic analysts as a tall order. ‘I’m confident if we listen to each other, consult and work closely, we’ll succeed,’ she said, insisting that the two countries were bound by common interests and values that were stronger than any of the differences.

Ms Clinton, who is the highest-ranking member of the Obama administration to visit Pakistan so far, stressed a couple of times during her 38-minute media interaction that US-Pakistan ties were more than just security-driven.

Alluding to the much discussed Kerry-Lugar bill, she said the US was trying to help Pakistan despite economic challenges. She listed some of the ways in which Washington intended to help Pakistan, saying: ‘We want to help you with jobs, economic development, infrastructure, access to education, providing support to healthcare and improving energy supply.’

Strategic dialogue
The two sides agreed to restart strategic dialogue for rejuvenating their strategic partnership.

Three rounds of the dialogue initiated in 2006 have so far been held, but the process was put on the backburner after Obama’s election as the US became more interested in the US-Pakistan-Afghanistan trilateral process.

‘We have agreed to resume and intensify the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, which I will personally oversee from my country. We want a comprehensive dialogue that is result-oriented,’ Ms Clinton said.

She praised Pakistan’s action against militants and said the US stood ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ with the people of Pakistan in their fight for peace and security.

Foreign Minister Qureshi acknowledged the sentiments of Secretary Clinton and said: ‘We know you are a friend of Pakistan … This visit will build bridges and deepen relations between the two countries.’

He noted that Ms Clinton’s visit at this stage was a ‘loud and clear’ message of solidarity with the people of Pakistan from the Obama administration and the people of America.

Mr Qureshi said he had discussed with Ms Clinton ways for promoting trust and being sensitive to each other’s concerns and core interests. He said he had asked the secretary of state to involve Pakistan in the Afghanistan review.

Meeting with Gilani
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Ms Clinton that Pakistan wished to build a long-term and stable partnership with the US based on mutual trust and respect.

Ms Clinton said she had come to Pakistan to listen and understand the concerns and problems of the country.

She assured the prime minister of her government’s sincerity in developing a long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan by overcoming differences through mutual consultations.

President Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari said democracies could help speed up the process of healing and development in Pakistan by supporting democracy and rendering assistance in critical areas of social and economic development.

Ms Clinton told the president that the US was looking forward to a long-term sustained and multidimensional partnership with the democratic government and the people of Pakistan.

The United States, she said, was committed to supporting the people of Pakistan at this critical hour and would extend all possible help to promote stability, strengthening of democratic institutions and investment in education and social sectors.