Afghanistan focus at Hagel talks with Pakistan PM --- Islamabad (AFP) - Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday as Washington seeks to defuse tensions over controversial US drone strikes and Islamabad's role in Afghanistan. -- After greeting Prime Minister Sharif at the start of their talks, Hagel said Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan had a "lot of common and mutual interests" and that he looked forward to discussing regional issues. -- Hagel was in Pakistan "in recognition of the tremendous support that Pakistan has provided in the war on terror", a senior US defence official told reporters. -- The defence secretary wanted "to deepen our defence partnership" and to affirm continued US military assistance, the official said. -- "There is some friction in the relationship" and Hagel wished to tackle that "head on", he added. - More