Michael R Pompeo concurs with India on Pakistan-based terror

NEW DELHI: USA on Monday concurred with India that Pakistan needs to dismantle terror infrastructure and that persons abetting terrorism should be held accountable.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale called on US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and the latter expressed his understanding of India's concerns regarding cross -border terrorism. They agreed that Pakistan needs to take concerted action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and to deny safe haven to all terrorist groups in its territory. They also agreed that those who support or abet terrorism in any form should be held accountable.

Gokhale is in Washington for wide-ranging discussions on Indo-US strategic partnership.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the significant progress and the quality of the India-US Strategic Partnership since Secretary Pompeo's visit to India in September 2018 for the first ever Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue.

The Foreign Secretary conveyed appreciation to the US Government and to Secretary Pompeo personally for the firm support that India received from the US in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pulwama, in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. He apprised Secretary Pompeo about recent developments in this regard. He is also understood to have appraised Pompeo about the use of F-16 and US made missiles against India and sought US action against Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary and Secretary Pompeo also discussed other issues of mutual interest including Afghanistan and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and agreed to closely work together in this regard.

In response to Pompeo's reference to bilateral trade matters, Gokhale underscored the significant reduction in trade deficit in the last three years and conveyed India's willingness to remain engaged with the U.S. for a meaningful and mutually acceptable package on trade issues.