WASHINGTON: Mike Pompeo, United States Secretary of State spoke to Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss the killing of Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani which heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
“#Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. 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,” Mike Pompeo tweeted.
The Pentagon said US President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani’s “killing,” after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy. Declaring three days of mourning across the country, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to take “severe revenge” for Soleimani´s death.
In another tweet, Pompeo disclosed he spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well about Soleimani’s killing “to protect American lives at stake”.
Gen Bajwa urges ‘maximum restraint’ in telephone call with Pompeo
In a separate tweet, the DG ISPR disclosed the army chief and the US secretary of state discussed the “regional situation including possible implications” after the escalation in the Middle East.
“COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East was discussed.
“COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process,” read the tweeted.
Earlier, Pakistan advised both Washington and Tehran to refrain from taking ‘unilateral action’ against each other and abide by the UN charter to respect each other’s territorial integrity.
Read more: Iran, US at brink of war after Soleimani killed in US strike
