DHAKA: US defence secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Pakistan on Monday for what is likely to be a day of tough talks with senior officials about security and the use of US drones, the first Pentagon chief to visit Islamabad in almost four years.

The United States has long had a complicated relationship with Pakistan and ties have been further soured by a dispute over US drones targeting militants.

Islamabad says such strikes kill too many civilians and violate its sovereignty, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Protests by anti-drone activists prompted the United States to suspend ground shipments of NATO cargo leaving Afghanistan via Pakistan last week.

BDST: 1700 HRS, DEC 09, 2013