Pakistan miffed over US State Secretary Mike Pompeo’s statement

Following US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement asking Pakistan’s new prime minister Imran Khan to take “decisive action” to get rid of all the terrorists operating in the country, Pakistan has taken a strong exception. India’s estranged neighbours, in turn, has asked the United State to “immediately correct” the statement.

In a statement issued by State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo was quoted as raising concern about Pakistan’s “decisive action”. Also, the country’s important role in promoting peace in neighbouring Afghanistan was raised during an interaction with newly-elected PM Imran Khan.

But Pakistan has raised serious objection to the statement saying that nothing about “terrorists operating in Pakistan” cropped up during the discussion that took place between Pompeo and Imran Khan. The crux of the meeting was apparently about other issues apart from congratulating Khan.

“Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Department on the phone call between Prime Minister Khan and Secretary Pompeo,” Mohammad Faisal, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman was quoted as saying by the NDTV.

The spokesman also posted this on micro-blogging site twitter as an official confirmation. “There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan. This should be immediately corrected,” the Twitter post read.

According to Pakistani daily Dawn, Pompeo is expected in the capital Islamabad on September 5 which would be the first ever meeting between him and new PM Khan. The newspaper quoted diplomatic and official sources.

Pakistan’s relation with the United States somewhat soured from the time when US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of “lies and deceit” and that it has become a safe haven for terrorists. The US President made this comment in Januray saying Washington got nothing from Islamabad.

In addition to some strong words, the US Congress also passed a bill to drastically decrease the defence to $150 million which also didn’t go down well with Pakistan.