US, Pakistan reiterate resolve to restore bilateral ties (Lead, correcting intro)

The US and Pakistan have reiterated their resolve to restore their bilateral relationship during a meeting between Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Ali Jahangir Siddiqui and US Defence Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon here.

Apart from bilateral ties, Jahangir and Mattis on Monday discussed Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan and the regional security situation. Pakistan's Defence Attache Brigadier Kamal Anwar Chaudhry accompanied Siddiqui, Geo News reported.

The meeting took place in the aftermath of the July 25 elections which saw Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerge victorious.

The US had, however, expressed its reservations about constraints on media freedom before the polls. Earlier, US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert stated that the election campaign in Pakistan was smeared by restrictions put in the way of free speech.

Nauert also highlighted that the US will look for opportunities to work with the new government to advance the goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia.

--IANS

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