WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday on relations between the two countries as they seek to repair ties that were strained under former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

They also spoke about the situation in Afghanistan and about the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food security in Pakistan and the rest of the world, the US State Department said after their call.

It was the second interaction between Blinken and Bhutto Zardari. They last spoke in May.

FM Bilawal meets US counterpart Antony Blinken, discusses bilateral ties

“The Secretary welcomed the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Pakistan and reaffirmed our joint goals for enhancing US-Pakistan bilateral partnerships on economic stability, climate, and health,” the State Department said in its statement on Wednesday.

Analysts have said they do not expect the United States to seek a significant broadening of ties with Pakistan’s new government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but to remain mostly focused on security cooperation, especially on counter-terrorism and Afghanistan.