US Secretary of State Mike Pomeo to arrive in Pakistan, hold important meeting with PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Pakistan and holdtalks with newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan on issues of mutualinterests, a media report said today.

Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, would be the firstforeign dignitary to meet Prime Minister Khan, Dawn reported, quoting thediplomatic and official sources.Khan, 65, was sworn in as Pakistan’s 22ndprime minister at a simple ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. The US haswelcomed the swearing-in of Khan as new Prime Minister and said that it waslooking forward to work with Pakistan’s new civilian government to promotepeace and prosperity in the country and in the region.

The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President DonaldTrump in January accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but”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. Citing its sources, the paper said that during his talkswith Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts torevive once close ties between the two countries and Pakistan’s support fora US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process.

Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the StateDepartment, may also accompany Pompeo, the paper added. In recentstatements, US officials have expressed the desire to restore their onceclose ties with Pakistan.

In her speech at the Pakistan Embassy earlier this week, Wells not onlywelcomed Khan’s election but also expressed the desire to work with hisgovernment for resolving difficult issues.

Wells noted that the new leader had also recognised the importance ofUS-Pakistan relationship in his public statements and in his first meetingwith US Embassy officials in Islamabad. In his victory speech last month,Khan said he wants a balanced relation between Pakistan and America whichshould be mutually beneficial, not one sided.