ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday spoke to Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, as part of his outreach to global leaders in the wake of the US air strike in which top Iranian commander of Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Qassem Soleimani was killed.

Secretary Pompeo took to the Twitter and shared his contacts over the telephone with his counterparts from other countries as well as with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa about the killing of General Soleimani.

“Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about the US defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver,” Pompeo stated in a tweet.

According to DG ISPR, the COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East was discussed, he said.

“COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability”, the DG said, adding that the COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process.