For the second time in two weeks, the US State Department has sidestepped questions regarding the imprisonment of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on what she described as “the internal frameworks of another country” when asked about Khan’s incarceration.
A journalist from a Pakistani newspaper pressed Bruce on whether US President Donald Trump would take any action regarding Khan’s jailing, referring to him as “the most popular leader” with the largest number of seats in Pakistan’s parliament. The journalist further claimed that Pakistan’s democracy, women’s rights, and other institutions had been “shattered” over the past two years, adding that “thousands” of Trump’s new voters in the US and “millions of Pakistanis” were expecting him to intervene.
Bruce, however, avoided any direct mention of Pakistan or Khan, reiterating that she would not comment on another country’s internal matters.
Noting that Trump has only been in office for eight weeks, she said “a lot is going on” and suggested that inquiries about the president’s “intentions and actions” be directed to the White House.
She then pivoted to a broader statement, saying that both President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have “made it clear” that they care about global affairs, the environment, and international relationships, pointing to US actions as evidence.
Concluding her response, Bruce acknowledged her evasiveness, saying, “I’ve been skipping around you here, and there’s no reason for that.”
This marks the second time in as many weeks that the State Department has refrained from giving a direct response to questions regarding Khan’s imprisonment.
