White House says it is watching Pakistan events ‘with concern’

Washington_US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller has said Washington was not involved in the conspiracy against the former Pakistani prime minister.

“The US is not involved in any conspiracy. The allegations against the US are false and will remain so,” Matthew Miller said in reply to a question during a press conference.

The US expressed concern over the visit of the former PM of Pakistan to Russia, Matthew Miller said in response to another question.

The spokesperson said that the former PM visited there on the day of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, on which we clearly expressed our concern.

He said the US cannot discuss private conversations with Pakistani diplomats. Matthew Miller said yesterday that the PTI chief’s arrest was an internal matter for Pakistan.

“But of course, we continue to call for the respect for democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law in Pakistan as we do around the world,” he said.

It is for the Pakistanis to decide the future of the country’s politics, he said, adding that Washington was determined to work with Pakistan on many issues.

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The United States is watching “with concern” events in Pakistan, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on Wednesday.

Kirby made his remarks after being asked about the situation in Pakistan, where former Prime Minister and PTI chief was recently imprisoned and there has been a spike in militant attacks.

“We’re obviously concerned about any actions, particularly violent actions, that can contribute to instability in Pakistan or frankly any other country with whom we share a set of common interests when it comes to counterterrorism, so we’re watching it with concern,” he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the president to dissolve parliament late on Wednesday, setting the stage for a national election as the country grapples with political and economic crises.

Islamist militants, who aim to overthrow the Pakistani government and install their own brand of strict Islamic law in the predominantly Muslim country of 220 million people, have been active in recent months. They have stepped up attacks since revoking a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022.

“Pakistan is a partner, particularly when it comes to the counterterrorism threat in that part of the world. And we have every expectation that they will remain so,” Kirby said.

The State Department said on Monday that the arrest of PTI chief, a critic of the United States, was an internal matter and declined to take a position on his legal troubles.