Pakistan and the US today said they were committed to work together to back an "Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process" in the war-torn country.

The commitment was expressed during a meeting between visiting US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar at the Foreign Ministry this evening.

Khar and Grossman exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan and "expressed the commitment to continue to work together in support of Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and for progress and stability in the country", said a statement from the Foreign Office.

The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, particularly Pakistan-US relations and the regional situation.

Khar underlined the importance of a broad-based relationship between Pakistan and the US "marked by deeper and wider cooperation in diverse fields".

Grossman said the US is committed to a "long-term relationship with Pakistan based on mutual interest and mutual respect".

Grossman's visit to Islamabad is expected to be the final high-level exchange between the two sides before US election.

The Foreign Office had earlier said that a proposed military operation in North Waziristan could figure in the discussions but there was no official word on whether Grossman had raised the issue.

The US has been pressuring Pakistan to crack down on militants in North Waziristan, which it has described as a safe haven for Taliban and al Qaeda elements.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at progress made by the Working Group on Law Enforcement and Counter-Terrorism during a recent meeting in Washington.