Pompeo to raise issue of terrorism with new Pakistani leadership: Report

The issue of combatting terrorism will be raised by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his talks here with Pakistan's new leadership next week, according to a media report.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday had confirmed that Pompeo will be in Islamabad on September 5 but now it has emerged that he would not be alone on the important trip. He will be accompanied by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Joseph F Dunford.

"The secretary of state and the chairman are going to fly in to Islamabad to meet with the new government that's in place there now," Defence Secretary James Mattis said during a news briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

The need to fight terrorists would be "the primary part" of their discussions with Pakistani leaders, he was quoting by Dawn newspaper as saying.

Dunford, who also attended the briefing, said the US had "permanent interests in South Asia" and wanted to "maintain a presence (there) to have influence in that region".

Pompeo and General Dunford are expected to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In their talks with Pakistani officials, the delegation will "make very clear what we have to do, all of our nations, in meeting our common foe, the terrorists," Mattis said.

"And make that a primary part of the discussion."
"And we want to make certain that where we have common interests, we are working together."