Washington, Oct 7 : The United States will continue ‘intensive engagements’ with Pakistan at all levels, the State Department has said.

When asked to comment on US President Barack Obama’s remarks that America would not feel comfortable in a long-term strategic alliance with Pakistan if it did not feel that Pakistan was mindful of US interests, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said: “I think you won’t be surprised if I don’t try to improve on the President of the United States, who’s just spoken to this issue.”

“As we’ve said many times over the last couple of days and weeks, we are engaged intensively with Pakistan at all levels. That engagement will continue,” she added.

The US Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman, will be in Pakistan over the weekend, and Washington looks forward to continuing to try to work together on these absolutely essential issues, for bilateral security and for the region, Nuland said.

She also acknowledged that the US is concerned about media reports and polls in the Pakistani press showing that Pakistani people view America as their country’s number one enemy.

“We are concerned about the public opinion polling numbers in Pakistan. This has been one of the key focuses of our Embassy in Islamabad, to try to give an accurate picture to a broad cross-section of Pakistanis about all that we have tried to do as a nation to support Pakistan’s own democratic reform efforts, education in Pakistan, quality of life, micro-lending, economic projects,” Nuland said in response to a question.

“It’s sometimes hard to permeate, given the intense emotions about other aspects of the relationship. But as you know, our civilian assistance to Pakistan, which has not been touched, is all focused on trying to strengthen Pakistan’s own efforts to grow the economy, improve and modernize education, to help more people out of poverty, et cetera, and we will continue to make those efforts along with our – to support Pakistan,” she added.

When asked as to why there is so much negativity inside Pakistan against the US, the spokesperson said Pakistanis should be asked that question. (ANI)