US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a trip to India on Wednesday that he remained hopeful that neighbouring Pakistan would choose the "right course" in cracking down on Islamist fundamentalists. In an interview with broadcaster India Today, Pompeo said he had discussed Pakistan in his meetings in New Delhi on Wednesday.
"I think this administration has been very clear to Pakistan our expectation. They cannot be supporting terror, whether that is cross-border terror between Afghanistan or Pakistan or whether it's terror that emanates from Pakistan and comes to this country," Pompeo said. He said the Trump administration had taken the threat from Pakistan "far more seriously" than the administration of former president Barack Obama.
"We still have a lot of work to do. But as a diplomat I always remain hopeful that Pakistan will choose the right course. I think for the Pakistani people it is the best outcome," Pompeo added. Pakistan points out that the insurgency in the disputed region is being fought by Muslim freedom fighters from occupied J&K.