The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called on Pakistan to take “decisive action” against all terrorists operating in the country.
He made the remarks in a phone call with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to a press statement by the US Department of State on August 23.
Earlier this month, the US Congress approved a $716.3-billion defense authorization bill, wherein it made a significant cut to the security-oriented financial aid to Pakistan.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2019 ramped up the military spending and avoided policy changes that would have antagonized US President Donald Trump.
In the latest NDAA, the security aid to Islamabad — that had once started from almost $750 million per year to $1 billion — was marked down to a mere $150 million. However, it also relaxed certain conditions that were attached with the financial assistance, including action against the Haqqani Network and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in the statement that Pompeo, in his talks with Imran Khan, also discussed Pakistan's vital role in promoting the peace process in Afghanistan.
“Secretary Michael R Pompeo spoke today with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and wished him success. Secretary Pompeo expressed his willingness to work with the new government towards a productive bilateral relationship,” she said in the statement. “Secretary Pompeo raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process,” she added in the statement.
The Pakistani media this week reported that Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Khan.
Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, would be the first foreign dignitary to meet Khan, Dawn reported, quoting diplomatic and official sources in Pakistan.
However, some Pakistani media reported that Pakistan has taken strong exception to the “factually incorrect” statement the United States State Department issued on a telephonic conversation between US Secretary of State and Imran Khan.
“Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by the US State Department on today’s phone call between PM Khan & Secretary Pompeo,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said in a tweet as quoted by the Express Tribune.