ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: A US delegation led by Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday to discuss the future trajectory of the intricate bilateral relationship that had recently been resuscitated through fence mending by both sides.

“Foreign Minister (Khar) expressed hope that her upcoming visit to Washington would provide an opportunity to discuss vital issues based on mutual respect and mutual interest to move forward,” a Foreign Office spokesman said after the minister’s meeting with the US delegation.

Mr Grossman headed the delegation that included Special Assistant to the US president on Pakistan and Afghanistan Douglas Lute, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defence Dr Peter Lavoy and US Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan Ambassador Richard Hoagland.

The two sides discussed current status of ties and exchanged views on the political and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The visit by Mr Grossman, his first after Pakistan reopened Nato supply routes two months back and more importantly, after the Haqqani Network’s designation last week by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation, is said to be preparatory to the foreign minister’s upcoming visit to Washington.

Last week Mr Lavoy held extensive consultations with military leaders on defence cooperation.

Sources privy to the discussions say the two sides during Ms Khar’s visit to the US might announce revival of talks on some of the segments that formed part of the Strategic Dialogue. They weren’t hopeful of the Strategic Dialogue being fully resumed.

Besides, they said, the two sides were in discussion on concluding a document delineating the future direction of the relationship that has long suffered from mistrust caused by unmet expectations on both sides.

Following Ms Khar’s trip, the sources said, a high-level military delegation would travel to Washington for defence talks.

The US delegation later met Gen Kayani at the General Headquarters.