US looking forward to working with new Pak Army chief

Lt Gen Raheel Sharif was appointed as the new army chief on Wednesday

The United States is looking forward to working with the new army chief of Pakistan, a State Department official has said.

We have "worked closely with (the outgoing Army chief) General (Ashfaq Pervez) Kayani on a range of issues over the course of his time in that position, as you know, he is moving on about and we look forward to working with his replacement," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.

The US, she said, has a range of security dialogues with Pakistan.

Lt Gen Raheel Sharif, an infantry officer regarded as a moderate, was yesterday appointed as the new army chief to succeed hawkish Gen Kayani who retires tomorrow after serving an extended tenure in the all-powerful post.