WASHINGTON: The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting free and fair elections in Pakistan, emphasizing its impartial stance towards any political party in the country. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, addressing queries during a regular press briefing on Monday, stated that the United States will maintain engagement with leaders elected by the people of Pakistan.
Miller mentioned ongoing bilateral discussions between the United States and Pakistan regarding their joint efforts to ensure the upcoming elections, scheduled for February 8 next year, are conducted in a free and fair manner. In a previous meeting between US envoy Donald Blome and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja in August, the US expressed its unwavering support for “free and fair elections.”
Regarding Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir’s recent visit to the United States, Miller disclosed that the army chief held meetings with senior officials at the State Department and Pentagon. He emphasized Pakistan’s significance as a major non-NATO ally and NATO partner, expressing the United States’ anticipation for collaboration on regional security and defense matters.
In a joint statement issued last week, Pakistan and the US affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and defense. The statement detailed Gen Munir’s discussions with top US officials, including Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, Secretary of Defense General (retd) Llyod J Austin, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer, and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q Brown.
Both countries identified counter-terrorism cooperation and defense collaboration as focal points of their discussions, with a mutual intent to expand interactions and explore new avenues for bilateral collaboration. The army chief underscored the importance of understanding each other’s perspectives on regional security issues, highlighting the need to address the Kashmir issue in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
COAS Munir’s visit occurred amid Pakistan facing significant security challenges from both internal and external terrorist groups, particularly impacting regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
