Pakistan disputes US account of Pompeo-Khan phone call

A telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Pakistan's newly electedPrime Minister Imran Khan has stirred up controversy, with Islamabad calling Washington's account of the discussion "factually incorrect".

Pompeo congratulated Khan on Thursday and expressed his willingness to work with the new government to improve bilateral ties between the two countries.

"Secretary Pompeo raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process," a US State Department readout about the phone call said on Thursday.

But on Friday, Pakistan's newly appointed Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi refuted the US statement, echoing similar objections raised by other Pakistani officials.

"The impression that has been given in their press release, which mentions terrorists operating in Pakistan, is in contrast with reality. And I say this with full confidence," Qureshi said at a press conference in the capital, Islamabad.