NEW YORK: Michael Pom­­peo, the US Secretary of State, warned Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman last week that it would be “very difficult for you to be a credible king” without a credible investigation into the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times said in its Friday issue.

But Mr Pompeo said the Trump administration’s response to the affair would take into account the importance of the US-Saudi partnership.

“They’re an important strategic ally of the United States and we need to be mindful of that.”

President Donald Trump said on Thursday it “certainly looks” as though Jamal Khashoggi is dead.

In a New York Times interview, he spoke of “very sev­ere” consequences if the “Sau­dis are found to have murdered him”. Before Presi­dent Trump spoke, the admi­nistration announced that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had pulled out of a Saudi investment conference slated for next week.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2018