ISLAMABAD – US State Department has said it stands by readout of ImranKhan- Mike Pompeo discussion which Pakistan has termed ‘factuallyincorrect’.

Pakistan has strongly rejected the version of the US State Department.

When questioned about the rebuttal Pakistan has issued on the telephonicdiscussion, State Department’s spokesperson Heather Nauert said: “They hada good call. That may surprise some of you, but they had a good call.Pakistan is an important partner to the United States. We hope to forge agood, productive working relationship with the new civilian government.”

When pressed to issue clarification whether the US going to correct itselfor the Pakistani government is wrong, she replied, ‘We stand by ourreadout.’

The FO in a statement had demanded an ‘immediate correction’ from the US onthe ‘factually incorrect’ readout after the phone call between PrimeMinister Imran Khan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“….There was no mention at all in the conversation about terroristsoperating in Pakistan. This should be immediately corrected,” said ForeignOffice Spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal.

According to US, Pompeo pressed new Pak PM to take “decisive action”against “terrorists” operating in Pakistanin their first conversation.

Pompeo wished Khan success in the wake of his being sworn in as primeminister in Islamabad Saturday following victory in July 25´s elections,said Nauert in a staement.

“Secretary Pompeo expressed his willingness to work with the new governmenttowards a productive bilateral relationship,” she added.

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

Ties with the US cooled in January when President Donald Trump accusedPakistan of “lies” and “duplicity” in the war on terror, suspendingmilitary assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars.