‘Mattis’ meeting with Pak leaders was to find common ground in fight against terror’

Washington, December 8 : The meeting of US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with the leaders of Pakistan during his visit to Islamabad early this week was to find common ground in fight against terrorism, the Pentagon said on Friday. “The Secretary had very fruitful conversations about where we can find common ground,” Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana White told reporters at her weekly news conference. She said the effort was to broaden the relationship between the two countries. “As he said no one had lost more troops and lives to terrorism than the Pakistanis. So again, this is about broadening our relationship and looking for opportunities. I think there are opportunities. I think his trip showed that,” White said. She was responding to a question on Mattis’ conversation with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Monday.“Terrorism. I mean, the threat of terrorism–I mean everyone has–Pakistan has an interest in ensuring that terrorism is defeated. They’ve lost thousands of troops, and they’ve lost thousands of innocents as well,” White said.