New Delhi: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave India a thumbs up on the Indian Air Force strike at several terrorist training camps across the LoC and the international border, including Balakot in Pakistan. At the same time, the Americans have told Pakistan to come down heavily on terror networks on its soil in a 'meaningful' way.

Pompeo saw in the "counter-terrorism" air strikes a reflection of the US's "close security partnership" with India and the "shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region".

In a statement released by the US Department of State's spokesperson on behalf of Pompeo, the high-ranking functionary was quoted as saying that he had met the foreign ministers of both the countries and held discussions with them.

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Pompeii said that he met Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and told him to take "meaningful action on terrorist groups operating on its soil". 

"I expressed to both ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid escalation at any cost," Pompeo said. He stressed that the two foreign ministers must establish direct communication and avoid military action.