( CNN ) -- U.S. President Barack Obama called Pakistan 's president Sunday to express condolences over the airstrike that killed 24 soldiers near the Afghanistan border more than a week ago , the White House said in a statement . `` The president made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States ' strong commitment to a full investigation , '' the statement said . `` The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship , which is critical to the security of both nations , and they agreed to stay in close touch . '' The conversation between Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was the latest bid to address strained relations between the two nations after a NATO airstrike killed the Pakistani troops on November 26 . After the attack , Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told CNN that Pakistan was re-evaluating its relationship with the United States . NATO later called the subsequent mass casualties caused by the strike `` tragic ( and ) unintended . '' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have called the incident a `` tragedy '' and offered condolences , though Washington has not issued a formal apology . The issue of U.S. and fellow NATO forces coming into Pakistan has been an especially sensitive topic in that country since May , when U.S. commandos killed then al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad without Pakistani leaders ' consent . During an exclusive interview last week with CNN , Gilani said the country wants to maintain its relationship with the United States as long as there is mutual respect and respect for Pakistani sovereignty . Asked directly if Pakistan is getting that respect , the prime minister said : `` At the moment ( it is ) not . '' `` If I ca n't protect the sovereignty of my country , how can we say that this is mutual respect and mutual interest ? '' he asked rhetorically . Pakistan has taken several steps aimed at NATO since the attack . That includes an announcement Friday , by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar , that NATO and International Security Assistance Force supplies could no longer be routed through Pakistan . The country has served a vital supply route for allied forces who have been fighting for more than a decade in neighboring Afghanistan .
Obama says the ' ` ` was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan , '' the White House says . White House : Obama and Bush express their commitment to U.S.-Pakistan relations . The conversation is the latest attempt to address strained relations between the two nations . A NATO airstrike killed 24 Pakistani troops on November 26 .