The Obama administration is hosting a delegation of top Pakistani officials in Washington in a bid to increase military cooperation. Opening the talks on Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised US-Pakistani ties.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “Over the years, our relationship has been tested, but it has always endured. And I’m pleased we have come together again at this critical moment to reinforce our ties and recommit to building a partnership that will last. The United States comes to this dialogue with great respect for the nation and people of Pakistan. We recognize the central role that Pakistan plays in promoting security and prosperity.”

The meetings come one day after a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee held a hearing on the legality of ongoing US drone attacks in Pakistan. Last week the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit demanding the US government disclose the legal basis for the drone attacks and information on the civilian casualties they’ve caused. American University law professor Kenneth Anderson told lawmakers the Obama administration’s secrecy on drone attacks could fuel legal action overseas.

Kenneth Anderson: “The long-term effect of that, given that there are not necessarily statutes of limitations on these kinds of acts, could be the problem of CIA officers or, for that matter, military officers or their lawyers being called up in front of international tribunals or courts in Spain or some place and say, ’You’ve engaged in extrajudicial execution or simple murder, and we’re going to investigate and indict.’”