The United States secretary of state Mike Pompeo has on Tuesday urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid any escalation at any cost, and claimed for the urgency of Pakistan to take meaningful action against Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit and several others operating from its oil, following Pulwama terror attack on CRPF personnel on February 14..
According to ANI news reports, Pompeo said he spoke with Indian minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj and emphasized our close security partnership and shared a goal of maintaining peace and security in the region.
Also, Pompeo held talks with Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, where he said Pakistani need to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action and call for the urgency of Islamabad taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.
After speaking with both countries’ foreign ministers, in an official statement, US secretary of state said, “We encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost.”
In a statement, Pompeo said: “Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs (Sushma) Swaraj to emphasise our close security partnership and shared a goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil.”
Pompeo said that he has expressed to Swaraj and Qureshi that Washington encourages India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and that to avoid further escalation at any cost. He said he had encouraged both ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid any further military activity.