US, UK discuss Indo-Pak tension

WASHINGTON: United States’ secretary of state Mike Pompeo and United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill on Friday discussed the need to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack last month.

During their discussions on “key global priorities, including support for reducing tension between India and Pakistan”, the officials also discussed Syria and Iran, said US state department spokesperson Robert Palladino in a readout.

Response to a request for more details on the discussions is awaited, including information on if the officials discussed the proposal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for designating Jaish-eMohammed chief Masood Azhar a terrorist.

The Pakistan-based terror group had claimed responsibil-

US STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON ROBERT PALLADINO SAID THE OFFICIALS ALSO DISCUSSED SYRIA AND IRAN

ity for the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The United States and the United Kingdom had both strongly condemned the Pulwama attack and extended their support to India in its fight against terrorism.

The two countries, along with France, launched a fourth attempt to sanction Azhar, last week. A decision is likely next week.

The three P-5 countries also pressed the UNSC to issue a statement condemning the Pulwama attack, despite stiff resistance from China on behalf of Pakistan.