ISLAMABAD — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today that relations between the United States and Pakistan had reached a turning point after the killing of Osama bin Laden, and Islamabad must make “decisive steps” in the days ahead to fight terrorism.

Clinton made the remarks after meeting with Pakistani civilian and military leaders on a brief trip to Pakistan meant to repair relations that have been badly frayed since the May 2 U.S. raid that killed the al-Qaida leader who had been hiding in a comfortable house in an army town not far from Islamabad.

The Pakistanis were angry they weren’t told of the raid in advance, while the location of bin Laden’s hideout raised U.S. suspicions that members of the security services must have known bin Laden’s whereabouts.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff who also was in Pakistan, was blunt.

“I think we all realize the challenges under which this relationship now labors,” he told reporters. “We had very candid discussions, the kind of discussion two friends should be able to have at times like this.”