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BFF-31
US-PAKISTAN-MEETING
Pakistan, U.S. to hold high level talks over anti-terror dispute
ISLAMABAD, Sept 5, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
is scheduled to hold talks with senior Pakistani civil and military leaders
later on Wednesday, officials and diplomatic sources said.
Sources familiar with the visit told Xinhua that Pompeo will lead his side
in official talks with the Pakistani delegation led by Pakistani Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Ministry.
Pompeo is also expected to call on Prime Minister Imran Khan and the
country’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The visit comes at a time when bilateral relations are at odds and days
after the United States announced cancellation of 300 million U.S. dollars
aid to Pakistan over what the American claims the country’s “lack of
cooperation” with President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy.
Qureshi strongly disputed the claim over the aid cancellation, insisting
that it was the money Pakistan has spent on the war on terror from own
resources and it should be reimbursed by Washington from the Coalition
Support Funds (CSF).
The United States established the CSF in 2002, which is eligible to be used
to reimburse coalition partners for logistical and military support to U.S.
military operations in support of counter-terrorism efforts.
Washington had also blocked another 500 million U.S. dollars in the CSF
earlier this year that has brought cancellation of a total of 800 million
U.S. dollars to Islamabad.
“We will listen to his (Pomepo) point of views and will also share with him
our position on how to normalize bilateral relations,” Qureshi told reporters
in Islamabad on Sunday.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1208 hrs