The United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Army Chief General Asim Munir over the phone on Tuesday, the US department of defence announced.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone on Tuesday with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir.

“Secretary Austin and Gen. Munir discussed areas of mutual interest as well as recent regional developments,” the statement said.

The announcement about the call came shortly after Pakistan set a deadline to expel all illegal foreign nationals in the country. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Apex Committee chaired by Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar where General Munir was also present.

The meeting decided to set November 1 as the deadline for foreign nationals to leave the country. Any illegal foreign nationals present in the country after the deadline will be expelled and their properties confiscated.

The Inter-Services Public Relations has not made a statement regarding the call yet.