Not enjoying dealing with Pakistan: Rex Tillerson

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson on Wednesday said he does not enjoy dealing with Pakistan as America’s relationship with the South Asian country has “drifted over the years”, noting that the two countries need to restore the ties to “one of common interest”.

“Dealing with Pakistan I don’t enjoy that,” Tillerson said in response to a specific query during a town hall with the State Department employees here. His remark, without any further explanation, was in response to a question posed by a State Department employee who asked: “Is it fair to ask and say do you enjoy your job as secretary of state?”

“...Pakistan is still an important and valued partner of the United States. Over the last decade, the relationship has drifted, and we’ve got to bring this relationship back to one of common interest,” Mr Tillerson said. Today that’s just not the case, he told his State Department colleagues.

“So we’re engaged in very frank discussions with Pakistan over the concerns we have about their own stability and their future, and the threat they're under by allowing terrorist organisations to operate in their territory,” Mr Tillerson said.