WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss bilateral ties, the State Department said here on Wednesday.

According to a statement of State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo met on Tuesday with the Pakistani official, following up on their Sept. 5 discussions in Islamabad on a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, Pompeo said the United States looked forward to working with Pakistan's new government, and discussed the importance of the United States and Pakistan working together to advance joint priorities, recognizing that bilateral cooperation was mutually beneficial and a factor for stability in South Asia.

Pompeo also underscored a common goal to advance peace and security in the broader region. In particular, he emphasized the important role Pakistan could play in bringing about a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan.

The top U.S. diplomat said that there was momentum to advance the Afghan peace process, and that the Afghan Taliban should seize the opportunity for dialogue.

The two officials also agreed to remain engaged on these and other issues, and reiterated their desire to maintain constructive dialogue to advance shared interests