Will work to augment Pak-US relations: Sherry Rehman

Pakistan's Ambassador-designate to the US Sherry Rehman today said she would earnestly work to augment bilateral relations and endeavour to defend Islamabad's interests at all international forums, especially in Washington.

Rehman made the remarks on working on the frayed Pak-US relations during a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari a day after her appointment.

She was named to the post after the former envoy, Husain Haqqani, was forced out over the memogate controversy.

Zardari asked Rehman to concentrate on enhancing relations with the US, with the focus on strengthening democracy and trade ties.

He congratulated Rehman on her new assignment.

Rehman also met Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and discussed bilateral relations with the US.

Khar "underscored the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the United States," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

Rehman's new assignment will see her playing a crucial role in guiding Pakistan-US relations, which plunged to a new low this year due to several crises.

The trouble began when CIA contractor Raymond Davis was arrested in Lahore in January for killing two armed men believed to be linked to ISI.

The crisis further intensified after the unilateral US raid that Killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2.