Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Thursday said that Pakistan and the United States together had degraded al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and they needed to continue to work together and cooperate in defeating the newer and more toxic form of terrorism.

In his remarks at a seminar organized by the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace, the minister also emphasized that both the United States and Pakistan had much to gain by working together, including achieving a durable peace in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan considers itself a longstanding friend of the United States," the minister said, adding that friends needed to revitalize and refresh their friendship from time to time. "A partnership that is anchored in mutual respect, pursuit of common interest and understanding of each other's concerns has served us both," he said.

However, he stressed on the fact that Pakistan had also helped the United States fight and degrade the organization that attacked the US on 9/11. "Within our limited capacity and without seeking quid pro quo, Pakistan has facilitated logistics of the United States longest war," he said.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2017