End drone strikes in Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif urges Obama

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has emphasised on the need to end the U.S. drone strikes in its tribal regions in a meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday.

Sharif also committed to building its relationship with India and peacefully resolving all disputes, including Kashmir, the BBC reports.

The relations between Islamabad and Washington have been strained since 2011, when U.S. Special Forces secretively raided a compound in Abbottabad killing al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden without giving any advance warning to the Pakistani government.

However, Obama said the U.S. and Pakistan remained important strategic partners, despite off-and-on tensions and misunderstandings between them.

Obama acknowledged that it was a challenge for both the nations to strengthen co-operation on counter-terrorism.

Obama also agreed to co-operate in maintaining Pakistan's sovereignty, as well as the concerns of both countries.

Sharif said his top priorities were boosting the economy, developing energy resources, promoting education and combating extremist activities.

Obama and Sharif also agreed on the importance of stabilizing Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO-coalition forces prepare to withdraw from Kabul next year.