ISLAMABAD : Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Monday suggested thatPrime Minister Imran Khan should not meet US Secretary of State MichaelPompeo when he visits Pakistan.“US secretary of state’s meeting with PM Imran will be against protocol,”Rabbani said while speaking to the media.

The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader further said that the foreignminister should meet the US secretary of state instead of the primeminister.“The transcript of a telephonic conversation between PM Imran and Pompeowas made public and this is a new way of exerting pressure,” he added.

Rabbani continued, “The US cancelled funds to Pakistan for a second time.”He said that the US is not paying for the expenses incurred on the waragainst terror.“Pakistan is not taking any aid from the US,” he asserted.

Last week, US Defence Secretary James Mattis confirmed Pompeo and Chairmanof the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Joseph Dunford will visitPakistan this week to meet PM Imran.Speaking at a news briefing at the Pentagon, Mattis said Pompeo and GeneralDunford will meet with PM Imran and other Pakistani leaders and discussrelations between the two countries.The two dignitaries are expected in Islamabad for a one-day visit onSeptember 5.

Pak-US relations have taken a backtrack after the Pakistan Foreign Officerejected a statement by the US State Department regarding the contents of aphone call between Pompeo and PM Imran last week.

“Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by USState Dept on today’s phone call between PM Imran and Secretary Pompeo.There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operatingin Pakistan,” FO spokesperson Dr Faisal tweeted.