Pakistan has on Monday assured the United States that it will firmly take stern actions against terrorist outfit operating from its soil and will also take steps to de-escalate the heightened tensions with India, a senior White House official said on Monday.
According to TOI news reports, such insurance was given during a telephonic conversation between the United States national security advisor John Bolton and Islamabad’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Bolton has confirmed.
In a tweet, Bolton wrote: “Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India.”
Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 11, 2019
Qureshi’s call to Bolton has occurred during India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale’s official visit to Washington DC to hold bilateral foreign security discussions with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo amid growing tensions with Pakistan.
In a statement, the US state department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino said, “Secretary Pompeo and foreign secretary Gokhale discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the (Pulwama) attack to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil”
Palladino added saying, “They noted the strength of our partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation, including on counterterrorism.”