Pakistan's Gilani to brief nation on U.S.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 25 (UPI) -- The Pakistani people will be briefed on the outcome of talks with the United States following their Thursday conclusion, the Pakistani prime minister said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Islamabad Thursday that he was confident about the outcome of strategic talks with U.S. officials in Washington.

He said he would address the nation to highlight the developments after the end of the dialogue, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton kicked off two days of negotiations Wednesday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Washington.

Clinton in her remarks to the media Wednesday said the bilateral talks marked a "new day" in bilateral relations with Pakistan.

Washington tied Pakistani stability to the success of its revised war effort under way in neighboring Afghanistan. Clinton acknowledged that both sides have had their differences but hoped the conference would chart new territory in strategic ties.

"We've made it clear this strategic dialogue is in Pakistan's interest and United States' interest," she said.

Qureshi, for his part, said his country showed resiliency in its effort to take on regional extremists, saying defeat at the hands of militants was not an option.

"With your help, with your support, and with this new partnership that we are building, I think we will achieve our objectives sooner than expected," he said.