KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: A senior U.S. official is in Islamabad for meetings with Pakistani leaders. Christina Rocca met with President Pervez Musharraf today. But as Talat Hussein reports, the two countries remain divided by a number of issues.</s>TALAT HUSSEIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Warm handshakes are not an apt reflection of the true state of relations between the United States and Pakistan. Once staunch allies, they now stand apart. The U.S. assistant secretary of state, Christina Rocca, is in Pakistan to bridge the bilateral differences. Reports suggest that during her meetings with Pakistani officials, she read a script familiar to most in Pakistan: Islamabad must end its support to the Taliban and make peace with India. Pakistan wants multi-layered U.S. sanctions to be lifted that were imposed after its nuclear tests in 1998 and military take over in 1999. In her meetings with Pakistan President General Musharraf, the issue of revival of democracy was discussed. President Musharraf assured Ms. Rocca that Pakistan will get back on the democratic path next year. Ms. Rocca is the first high-level official the Bush administration has sent to Pakistan, an indication, many say, that while the United States may not like many of Pakistan's policies, it is still taken seriously. Talat Hussein for CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Amid Continuing Disputes, U.S. Official Meets With Pakistani Leaders.