Pakistan says US statement over Khan-Pompeo call is ‘fake news’

Pakistan PM Imran Khan and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (AFP)
  • “There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan” — Foreign Office spokesperson
  • Heather Nauert, State Department’s spokesperson said in her press briefing, on Thursday, that State Department stands by the original readout of the phone call

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson has rejected a statement made by the US State Department about the contents of a phone call between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Dept on today’s phone call between PM Khan and Sec Pompeo. There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal said in a tweet on Thursday.

The “factually incorrect” statement, which was released by the US State Department, said: “Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and wished him success. Secretary Pompeo expressed his willingness to work with the new government toward a productive bilateral relationship. Secretary Pompeo raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that there was no mention of terrorists in the telephone conversation and demanded that the US government immediately correct the “false statement.”

State Department’s spokesperson, Heather Nauert, said in her press briefing on Thursday, that State Department stands "by original readout of the phone call between Sec. Pompeo and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan."