ISLAMABAD   -   Pakistan and the United States aim to make relationship ‘misunderstandings free’ as the uneasy allies make efforts to return to normalcy after a period of tension.

Top diplomats suggest the two sides are in regular contact and doing the damage control after the lengthy phase of uneasy relationship. The two sides are engaged at the foreign minister-level and the lower diplomatic level to treat the wounds.

Since Joe Biden took over as the US President around two years ago, the Pakistan-US ties went from bad to worse amid misunderstandings. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan kept waiting for Biden’s telephone which never happened.

Imran Khan later accused the US of conspiring to topple his government and supporting the opponent parties led by the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) to form the government. The US rejected the allegation.

But after Shehbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took oath as the Foreign Minister, the ties started improving.

Bilawal spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the telephone first and then visited the US. The meeting between Bilawal and Blinken was termed ‘positive’ and it seemed so from the body language of both the sides.

The US now has a full-time Ambassador in Islamabad. Donald Blome – a career diplomat - arrived this month. He holds the rank of Minister-Counselor. He landed in Islamabad at a time where the US has no immediate concerns or frantic diplomatic shuttles to Kabul.

“I am thrilled to be in Pakistan and I look forward to exploring this beautiful country and acquainting myself with its people and its culture,” Ambassador Donald Blome said in a post-arrival statement.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also called for a reset of the strained Pakistan-US relations through engagement, saying he believes the two countries agree on far more than they disagree on.

“The way in which this relationship progressed in recent years doesn’t serve the interests of the people of Pakistan, but it also doesn’t serve the interests of the people of America,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with The Washington Post. “And I still believe that Pakistan and the United States agree on far more than we disagree on.” FM Bilawal said.

“Even though I’m young and I’m supposed to be a lot more idealistic and revolutionary, because of our [family’s] experience, I actually believe in evolution over revolution,” the Foreign Minister said.

Islamabad has accused Washington of abandoning Pakistan. Washington has accused Islamabad of coddling terrorists, and being mendacious and deceptive.

Much about Pakistan’s concerns US officials, from its ties to terrorist groups that target the United States to a powerful military that constrains the growth of civilian-led democracy. But Washington has long swallowed its misgivings and pursued partnership with Islamabad, calculating that its interests dictate doing so.

The two formed a Cold War alliance that entailed joint backing for anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, they established a counterterrorism alliance to target al-Qaeda. In 2004, Washington designated Pakistan as a non-NATO ally - a prestigious status accorded to some of America’s top partners.

Today, with Shehbaz Sharif in office, the Biden administration has an interlocutor who will be easier to work with than his predecessor, Imran Khan.

The takeaway is that Pakistan can still be a helpful partner, underscoring why Washington has never opted for a divorce from Islamabad - despite their many incompatibilities.

Senior diplomats said the two countries were getting closer and soon Islamabad and Washington could return to friendship that has been one part of their relationship. The other part is of course suspicions, misunderstandings and allegations.