David Miliband has arrived in Pakistan for talks about the future of neighbouring war-torn Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism.
The Foreign Secretary's visit, his sixth in two and a half years, comes ahead of an international conference on Afghanistan to be held in London later this month.
Pakistan has clashed with Britain and the US about efforts to tackle insurgents and al Qaida leaders thought to be hiding out in the regions around its 1,600-mile border with Afghanistan.
Speaking ahead of the two-day trip, Mr Miliband said: "I'm looking forward to discussing with Pakistan's leaders how they assess the current situation on each side of the border and how we can extend co-operation across that border."
The Foreign Secretary said he would also be discussing the political, economic and security challenges Pakistan faced and how the country was tackling them.
"Pakistan's armed forces and Pakistan's civilians have suffered greatly from terrorist violence and they are showing great sacrifice in taking on the internal terrorist threat that I believe is the greatest threat to the future of Pakistan," he said.
"I will be discussing how Pakistan is rising to the challenge, with international support, of addressing the danger that it faces."
Mr Miliband said Britain and Pakistan shared many ties, through their histories, cultures, families and political aims, He will be holding talks with president Asif Ali Zardari, prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other ministers and military leaders.
After a meeting with Gordon Brown in Downing Street last month, Mr Gilani openly contradicted the Prime Minister about claims that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan.
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Mr Brown had a few days earlier suggested Pakistan should be doing more to tackle terrorist chiefs in the region. But Mr Gilani said Pakistan had not been given any credible information by the West about bin Laden's whereabouts.
