'Pak exercising sovereign right to review bilateral ties'

Pakistan is exercising its sovereign right to review its ties with United States, a top State Department official said on Thursday, asserting that a strong bilateral relationship is in best interest of both the nations.

"This is the Pakistanis exercising their sovereign right to look at this relationship, decide what they want out of this relationship and make a decision that it's in their national interest, as is our relationship with the Pakistani government in the US' national interest," State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, said.

The US-Pak ties has touched a new low after a cross-border NATO air raid, in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in November last year.

"We've long said that we share the same goals, and we face the same challenges. And that's why this relationship is so important," Toner told reporters in response to a question at his daily news conference.

However, he refused to comment on the developments in Pakistan with regard to decisions by its Supreme Court.

"I don't believe it's difficult. This is an internal political process that's being played out in the -- in the courts in Pakistan, but he remains the Prime Minister," Toner said.

"How can you deal and talk to a prime minister who has been indicted by their own Supreme Court? Is it difficult, really?" he was asked.