Pakistan's new ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman met with senior State Department officials, beginning her diplomatic assignment at an important time for relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Rehman paid a courtesy call on Wendy Sherman, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the State Department, marking her first senior level official contact as Islamabad's envoy in Washington.

Marc Grossman, U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Pakistani envoy also had a meeting at the State Department. Grossman congratulated Sherry Rehman on assuming the postion

of top Pakistani diplomat in Washington. During their meeting, Ambassador Rehman and Ambassador Grossman discussed the current state of Pakistan -U.S. relations, a Pakistani embassy spokesman said.

The U.S. officials said they look forward to working with Ambassador Rehman on taking forward the bilateral relationship.

Sherry Rehman will formally present her credential as Pakistan's ambassador to President Barack Obama at the White House next week.

The relationship between U.S. and Pakistan suffered a serious setback with a November 26, 2011 cross-border NATO attack on Pakistani checkpost along Durrand Line with Afghanistan, which claimed lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

According to U.S. State Department, Washington is committed to and working towards improvement in bilateral ties.