U.S. Defense Secretary holds talks in Pakistan on security

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is scheduled to hold talks with Pakistani civil and military leaders about security issues on Monday, officials said.

Hagel earlier visited Afghanistan at a time when relationship between Washington and Kabul are tense over a proposed security pact that will allow thousands of American troops to stay beyond the 2014 NATO withdrawal.

Pakistani and U.S. officials say that Hagel will meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan's new Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and will review cooperation in the war on terror and peace in Afghanistan.

They said both sides will also discuss U.S.-Pakistan security partnership and post-NATO Afghanistan as the role of both countries is key to peace process in the war-torn neighboring country.

This is the first visit to Pakistan by a U.S. defense secretary in four years.

Hagel met with Prime Minister Sharif during his visit to Washington in October.

Pentagon said Sunday that Hagel looks forward to continuing candid and productive conversations about "important security partnership and how to address common threats."

Hagel will discuss Afghanistan and the security partnership between Washington and Islamabad, his spokesman Carl Woog was quoted as saying ahead of the visit.

The visit comes at a time when relationship between Pakistan and the United States are under pressure over several issues particularly the controversial drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal regions.

The U.S. has refused to accept Pakistan's demand for a halt in the drone attacks which Pakistani leaders describe as against sovereignty of the country.

The issue of the NATO supply line will also be prominently figured in the talks as the ruling party in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has blocked the main supply route for over two weeks as protest against the drone strikes.

The Pentagon has confirmed suspension of the withdrawal of military equipment via the Pakistani route following the blockade.

Analysts say that the U.S. secretary defense will also discuss Islamabad's role to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiation table as the country enjoys deep influence on them.