<span style="color: #222222;">The United States has firmly asked Pakistan to take meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil and stressed the importance of avoiding escalation at any cost after the Balakot airstrike conducted by India. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a telephonic conversation with the Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for avoiding military action. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a separate call with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Mr Pompeo emphasized the close security partnership between the US and India and the shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Australia has also demanded that Pakistan take urgent and meaningful action against terrorist groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e Taiba operating from their soil. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement that Islamabad must do everything possible to implement its own proion of Jaish-e-Mohammed. </span><br />''