United States lauds India's Balakot air strike, asks Pakistan to take 'meaningful action' on terrorists

By Siddhartha RaiFirst Published Feb 27, 2019, 12:57 PM IST
Highlights

India continues to get global support for aerial action against terror camps across LoC and in Pakistan's Balakot in which 12 Mirage 2000 jets killed over 300 terrorists and destroyed a munition dump and training facilities

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.

Also read: How IAF struck JeM camps in Pakistan to avenge Pulwama terror attack

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. 

 

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