Pence calls Pak's interim PM Mulk; expresses support for polls

US Vice President Mike Pence today telephoned Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk and expressed his support for the government.

A six-member caretaker federal Cabinet on Tuesday took oath to run the Pakistan government under interim Prime Minister Mulk, 67, till the general election on July 25.

The call of Pence came after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talked to Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss various issues including peace process in Afghanistan.

Radio Pakistan reported that Pence expressed well wishes for the caretaker government on behalf of President Donald Trump, as both the leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

They also agreed to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Mulk said that the caretaker government is providing all possible assistance to the Election Commission to hold free, fair, transparent and peaceful general election on time.

Earlier, US State Department said that Pompeo and General Bajwa discussed ways to advance US-Pakistan bilateral relations, the need for political reconciliation in Afghanistan and the importance of targeting all militant and terrorist groups in South Asia without distinction.

Pakistan has not formally issued any response to the conversation between Pompeo and Bajwa.

But army spokesman said that that Bill Gates called General Bajwa and supported efforts by army to help eradicate polio from Pakistan.