WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD – United States’ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hasmade a telephone call to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He pressed Prime Minister Imran Khan in a phone call to take “decisiveaction” against “terrorists” operating in Pakistan, the State Departmentsaid Thursday.

Pompeo wished Khan success in the wake of his being sworn in as primeminister in Islamabad Saturday after a victory in national elections onJuly 25, said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

“Secretary Pompeo expressed his willingness to work with the new governmenttowards a productive bilateral relationship,” Nauert said in a statement.

He also “raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action againstall terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting theAfghan peace process.”

Washington has pressured Pakistan for years to crack down on the branchesof the Taliban and the notorious Haqqani network operating the country,both of which have been designated as terror groups by the United States.

The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President DonaldTrump in new year tweet accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washingtonbut “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan’s defence aid to USD150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD onebillion per year.

In his victory speech last month after winning the July 25 polls, the primeminister said he wants a balanced relation between Pakistan and Americawhich should be mutually beneficial, not one sided.

Before the election he repeatedly blamed Pakistan’s participation in theUS-led anti-terror campaign for the surge in terrorism on home soil overthe last decade.