Islamabad, Aug 20 (ANI): Top Pakistani and American officials have agreed to give a fresh start to the strategic dialogue between both countries during the 67th United Nations General Assembly session, to be held in New York next month, sources in the Pakistan Embassy in Washington have said.

President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the United Nations General Assembly this time as all preparations indicate that there are bright chances to have bilateral meetings with different heads of states but a meeting with the US president is also on the cards, The Express Tribune quoted sources at the Presidency in Islamabad, as saying.

Regarding the process of the revival of bilateral ties between the two allies, the U.S. initiated a goodwill message to Pakistan through diplomatic channels stating that the U.S. is serious in rejuvenation of the torn relations with Pakistan as the Salala incident had brought great damage not only to the existing strong relationship (with Pakistan) but also to the war efforts against terror.

Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) echoed similar views: We also want to give a fresh start to the ties with the U.S. as there is no use of lingering on issues that have already been settled by both of us, therefore, an agenda for the revival of strategic dialogue is being chalked out in both countries as of now, an FO official said.

Keeping in view the tension that erupted between Pakistan and the U.S. since the Raymond Davis issue, Osama Bin Laden's killing and the Salala episode, we hope that the US will have a realistic approach in addressing all issues, the official added.

During the next strategic dialogue rounds, he said, Pakistan's tentative focus will be mainly on the social sector and non-security related areas specifically.

It was learnt that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, along with Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, are likely to visit Washington in September to finalise the agenda and to discuss other pending issues for the fourth ministerial session of the strategic dialogue.(ANI)