Imtiaz Ahmad   

ISLAMABAD: US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is likely to visit Pakistan in the first week of September for consultations with Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team on issues of mutual interests, local media reported on Sunday.

Pompeo, who is expected to arrive Islamabad on September 5, will likely be the first foreign dignitary to meet the newly elected prime minister, the Daily Dawn reported. During his talks with Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues — efforts to revive the once close ties between the two sides and Pakistan’s support for a US-led move to jump-start the Afghan peace process, the paper quoted official sources as saying.

Alice Wells, who heads the bureau for South Asian affairs at the state department, may accompany him, officials said.

The report said the US believes Pakistan still has enough influence over the Afghan Taliban to persuade them to join the peace process, and wants Islamabad to help establish a political setup in Kabul that would allow a peaceful withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

On Saturday, the state department said it recognises and welcomes the new Pakistani prime minister, dispelling the impression that Washington was not happy with Imran Khan’s election. “We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office,” spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

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Courtesy: Hindustan Times: 20 Aug 2018