Pompeo meets PM Khan; discuss aid suspension, bilateral issues

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday and discussed ways to "reset" bilateral ties strained over the issue of Islamabad's support to the terror outfits active in the region and the blockage of USD 300 million in military aid to the country.

Pompeo, the former CIA chief who is making his first visit to Pakistan as the top American diplomat, told Khan that he was "pleased" with his meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi earlier in the day.

Khan and Pompeo discussed Afghan peace process and blockage of USD 300 million in Coalition Support Fund (CSF) among other matters of mutual interests during a meeting which was also attended by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Express Tribune reported, citing sources.

"I'm a born optimist. A sportsman always is an optimist. He steps on the field and he thinks he's going to win," Khan said, referring to efforts by the US and Pakistan to improve their ties which has nose-dived in recent months.

This is the US' first high-level dialogue with Pakistan since the new government of Prime Minister Khan assumed office after the July 25 elections and comes days after the Trump administration cancelled USD 300 million in military aid to Islamabad for not doing enough against terror groups active on its soil.

"In #Pakistan with my colleague & friend CJCS Gen Joe Dunford. Today we met with PM @ImranKhanPTI & FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss our diplomatic & military to military relationship" Pompeo tweeted.

Pompeo, who along with US Joint Chief of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford had arrived on an official visit to Pakistan, earlier met Qureshi and discussed "bilateral, regional and international issues" during their crucial talks, in a bid to reset the strained ties on basis of "mutual trust and respect".

"FM Qureshi underscores the need to reset bilateral ties on basis of mutual trust and respect. Safeguarding Pakistan's national interests will remain supreme priority," Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted.

The ties between the two countries strained after US President Donald Trump, while announcing his Afghanistan and South Asia policy in August last year, hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to "agents of chaos" that kill Americans in Afghanistan and warned Islamabad that it has "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists.

He had also slammed Pakistan for its support to terror groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so.

In January, Trump suspended all military assistance to Pakistan accusing it of rewarding past assistance with "nothing but lies and deceit."