ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Saturday his country valued its "long-standing" relations with the United States and wanted robust economic ties with Washington during a meeting with a four-member delegation of the US Senate.

The relations between the two countries have largely remained strained in recent years due to their divergent ideas about the conduct of war in Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, Pakistan refused to participate in a US summit on democracy which was virtually organized and brought together leaders from several countries.

"The Prime Minister underlined that Pakistan valued its long-standing relationship with the United States and was committed to expanding it in all spheres, particularly in the economic dimension," said a statement released by his office after the meeting with the US lawmakers.

"He hoped that the visits of Congressional delegations will help strengthen mutual understanding and forge closer people-to-people contacts," continued the statement. "The Prime Minister reiterated that a deeper and stronger partnership between the two countries was mutually beneficial and critical for the region’s peace, security and prosperity."

Discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the Pakistani leader emphasized the need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.

Remembering the collective struggles carried out by the two countries in the past, the visiting delegation appreciated Pakistan's recent contribution to the evacuation process of foreign citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of Kabul.

The US senators also met the country’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interest.

According to the military’s media wing, ISPR, the army chief maintained Pakistan wanted productive bilateral engagements with all the regional players and wished for peaceful, diversified and sustained relations with them.

He also thanked the visiting delegation for its efforts in forging mutual understanding of geopolitical and security situation in view of the challenges ahead.

The four US lawmakers are all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence while one of them is also part of the Senate Armed Services Committee.