WASHINGTON: The United States has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the preservation of democratic processes in Pakistan. Emphasizing the paramount importance of conducting free and fair elections within the nation.
In a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US will continue to engage with the leaders elected by the people of Pakistan and is engaged with Pakistan on a bilateral basis to discuss their support for free and fair elections, which are scheduled to take place on February 8, 2023.
The US envoy in Islamabad, Donald Blome, met Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja in August this year and reaffirmed the US support for “free and fair elections.” The US response reflects its commitment to ensuring the security of democratic processes and protecting the interests of its allies and partners in the region.
The US has also cautioned Pakistan against delaying the polls, as any delay beyond a certain timeframe would trigger negative consequences for Pakistan’s engagement with the US-led financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Miller stated in response to a question on General Asim Munir, the commander of Army Staff (COAS), that the army commander had meetings with several high-ranking officials at the Pentagon and State Department.
“Both a NATO member and a significant non-NATO ally of the US is Pakistan. We anticipate working together on defense cooperation and regional security,” he added.
Last week, Pakistan and the US agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and defense collaboration during General Munir’s first visit to Washington, as stated by the military’s media wing.
The statement followed the army chief’s meetings with US officials, where both sides expressed the intent to expand bilateral collaboration in pursuit of shared interests. Discussions focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, defense collaboration, and the importance of understanding regional security issues.
General Munir also emphasized the significance of resolving the Kashmir issue under international law and relevant UNSC resolutions. This visit occurred amidst significant security challenges faced by Pakistan from both internal and external terror groups, particularly affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.
