WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lands in Islamabad for oneday visit to Pakistan.

He on Tuesday said he was hoping to “reset the relationship” with Pakistanahead of a trip to Islamabad to meet with new Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaking on a plane ahead of a trip to South Asia, Pompeo also announcedthat Zalmay Khalilzad, a high profile former US ambassador, had been namedto a new role to lead peace efforts in Afghanistan.

Pompeo’s conciliatory remarks toward Pakistan come days after Washingtonconfirmed plans to cancel $300 million in military aid over Islamabad’slack of “decisive actions” in support of American strategy in the region.

But the former CIA director, who is making his first visit as his nation’stop diplomat to the wayward ally whose support is vital in the long-runningAfghan conflict, said it was time to “turn the page.”

“So first stop — Pakistan. New leader there, wanted to get out there atthe beginning of his time in an effort to reset the relationship betweenthe two countries,” he said.

“There are lot of challenges between our two nations for sure but we’rehopeful that with the new leadership that we can find common ground and wecan begin to work on some of our shared problems together,” added Pompeo,who will be joined by General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs ofStaff.

The White House believes that a Pakistani crackdown could be pivotal indeciding the outcome of the long-running war in Afghanistan.

Pompeo suggested that the election of Khan, who has vowed to seek betterrelations with the US, could provide a fresh impetus.

“Look, I think there is a new government this time, most of this took placelong before prime minister was in power and I hope we can turn the page andbegin to make progress. But there are real expectations,” he said.