Pak snubs US on ‘ incorrect’ leak
Pakistan on Friday snubbed the US for allegedly twisting details of the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan had conveyed its annoyance to the US on the issue.
“They have spoken about the terrorists operating inside Pakistan in their statement. We have contacted them on this to correct the position,” he said as he hoped to have positive dialogue with Secretary Pompeo in September 5.
Mr Qureshi said the world had become multipolar again which had made foreign policy a more challenging job.
Earlier, foreign office spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal rejected the US state department’s readout about the call between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo “factually incorrect”.
In a statement, Dr Faisal said, “Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Department on Friday’s phone call between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.”
The statement issued by the State Department said: “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.” The minister said peace, stability and economic development were of vital importance to move ahead and for achieving goals of shared development and prosperity. Mr Qureshi said the government will present an effective point of view of Pakistan before world. He said regional peace was an important element of its foreign policy.
The foreign minister said that Indo- Pak relations were victim of delay and both the countries will have to look into the prospects that how they can move forward.
He said dialogue was the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues with India.