Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi today said the US State Department's statement that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the issue of terrorism with newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan was "contrary to the facts".
He said that the telephonic conversation between Khan and Pompeo were "very good" and the US Secretary of State expressed his desire to have a "constructive engagement with the new government".
Pompeo, who is expected to visit Pakistan on September 5, yesterday spoke to Khan for the first time after the cricketer-turned-politician assumed office last week and sought "decisive action" against all terrorists operating in Pakistan, the US State Department said in the statement.
Addressing the media, following Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's maiden visit to the Foreign Office during which he was briefed about the country's foreign policy, Qureshi said: "The statement issued by the State Department is contrary to the facts."
"I say this with full confidence that the mentioning of 'terrorists operating from Pakistan' is contrary to the facts," he said.
Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Office took exception to the State Department's statement.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that "Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by the US State Department on today's phone call between Prime Minister Khan and Secretary Pompeo."
"There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan. This should be immediately corrected," Faisal tweeted.
Asserting that the bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US was very important, despite the fact the tie had been going through many ups and downs, he said, "Pompeo is expected to visit Pakistan on September 5. I am looking forward for the visit of the Secretary of State to engage with him (on all issues)".
The US has long been frustrated with Pakistan's overt and covert support to the Afghan Taliban and other terror groups, forcing the Trump administration to warn Islamabad and slash military aid to the country.
Qureshi said that if we are interested to broaden our ties with the US, then we will have to understand their (US') needs in Afghanistan and we will have to make them understand about our demands.
He also said that Chinese foreign minister will visit Pakistan on September 8 and 9 to have talks with the new government.
"We have exemplary relations with China and we will discuss to further increase the relations during the visit of foreign minister of China," he said.
The Minister said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of the Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was important for the country's development and efforts will be made to get maximum benefit from it.
Qureshi also said that foreign ministers of Iran and Japan would also be visiting Pakistan.
He stressed that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was an important regional forum but unfortunately it could not be utilised for it. "We want to make SAARC more active," he said.
On Afghanistan, he said that peace in Afghanistan was vital for peace in Pakistan.
"Peace in Afghanistan is central to peace in Pakistan. President Ashraf Ghani has also sent a positive he also sent a positive signal [to Pakistan]. We have to see what role Pakistan can assume, he said.
He said that Pakistan also wants to deepen ties with African countries which can help to increase it exports.
He said Pakistan was to make progress on the issues highlighted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as it would never like to be pushed on the black list which will be damaging for it.
Qureshi stressed that financial stability was important, and said that the government will ask over 9.2 million Pakistani diaspora to play their role.
The foreign minister also said that in line with the government austerity drive, he will travel in the business class and avoid staying at five star hotels.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)