WASHINGTON The next round of US-Pakistan strategic dialogue will be held in Washington later this month and Islamabad will send a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as well as Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

Diplomatic sources told Dawn that the Pakistani delegation would arrive on Oct 20 while the talks would be held at the US State Department on Oct 21-22.

Describing the dialogue as “the best testament” to the strength of US-Pakistan relationship, a Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell confirmed that “Gen Kayani will certainly be there, Mr Qureshi, the foreign minister, will be there”.

“So the relationship continues despite these setbacks. And there are going to be setbacks occasionally,” said the Pentagon official while referring to Pakistan's decision to close the Torkham supply route after Nato helicopters fired inside Fata and killed three Pakistani soldiers.