"US Acknowledges Government Formation in Pakistan as Internal Affair"
Washington Remains Firm: US Stands by Non-Interference Policy in Pakistan's Government Formation
The Biden administration reiterates its unwavering commitment to refrain from interference in Pakistan's government formation process, despite calls from US lawmakers and others to withhold recognition of the February 8 election results.
During Wednesday's press briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized this stance, declining to comment on the prospective coalition setup in Pakistan. Miller affirmed that decisions regarding coalition politics are internal matters for each country, and the US maintains its policy of non-intervention in such affairs.
"We express our concerns regarding any reports of limitations on freedom of association and expression in Pakistan, particularly the government-imposed restrictions on social media platforms," he stated. "We urge Pakistan to uphold freedom of expression and to restore access to any restricted platforms, including Twitter."
He underscored that during discussions with Pakistani counterparts, US officials "have and will continue to stress the importance of respecting these fundamental freedoms." He confirmed that US concerns on this matter have been conveyed to Islamabad.
On Tuesday, he also addressed allegations of electoral misconduct by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, stating, "Regarding any allegations of interference or irregularities, we advocate for thorough investigations."
Last week, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized, "We consistently communicate, both publicly and privately, to the Pakistani government and across the political spectrum the imperative of respecting the will of the Pakistani people."
