Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that State Department stance on the phone call between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is 'factually incorrect'.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday night rejected the statement issued by the US State Department in which Secretary Pompeo has raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan.
Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Dept on today’s phone call btwn PM Khan & Sec Pompeo. There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan. This shd be immediately corrected.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2018
"We don't have the same cordial relations with the US as we had in the past. The US now has to understand Pakistan's point of view", he said. Pakistan will have to make the US understand its genuine reservations over certain policy matters, Qureshi reiterated.
"The meeting between Mike Pompeo and PM Imran Khan will be a milestone in Pak-US ties", he further added. Shah Mehmood confirmed that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Pakistan on September 5.
Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, he said the government will present an effective and solid point of view of Pakistan before the world. He said regional peace is an important element of the country's foreign policy.
The foreign minister said that Pak-India relations are the victim of delay and both the countries will have to look into the prospects that how they can move forward. He said dialogue is the only way forward to resolve all the outstanding issue between India and Pakistan.
He said Iran is our neighbour and Pakistan is desirous of the peaceful and stable border with Iran. He said the foreign minister of Iran expressed his desire to visit Pakistan and we will warmly welcome him.