The United States has reiterated that allegations of interference or fraud in the February 8 general elections need to be thoroughly, fairly and transparently investigated as per Pakistan's laws but maintained that the formation of a new government in Islamabad was country's internal matter, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing daily news briefing in Washington on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller maintained "Any claims of interference or fraud should be fully and transparently investigated in accordance with Pakistan's own laws and procedures. And that, of course, includes this claim as well."

When he was asked about the formation of a new government in Islamabad and whether Washington would ask Pakistan's political leadership to respect PTI's mandate, Miller responded by suggesting that it was Pakistan's internal matter. "I don't want to get into an internal Pakistani matter, which I very much believe that the formation of a new government is," he said, adding, "That's a matter that I will leave to Pakistan."

He, however, reiterated that when it comes to claims of interference or allegations of irregularities, "we want to see those fully investigated."

Miller called on Pakistan to lift restrictions on X, formerly known as Twitter, after days of disruption following an election marred by fraud allegations. "We are concerned by any report of restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of expression and association in Pakistan, including a partial or complete government-imposed internet shutdown," Miller told reporters.

"We continue to call on Pakistan to respect freedom of expression and restore access to any social media that has been restricted including Twitter, now known as X," he said. "We have and we will continue to emphasize the importance of respecting these fundamental freedoms during our engagements with Pakistani officials."

X went down in Pakistan on Saturday night after a senior government official made a public admission of vote manipulation in the February 8 election.

The Netblocks global internet monitor on Wednesday cited instances of restrictions. "Metrics show that X/Twitter remains largely restricted in Pakistan past the four-day mark; imposed on Saturday as disclosures relating to election fraud circulated on the platform," Netblocks said.

The two main dynastic parties, the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), late Tuesday announced a coalition with smaller parties to govern the world's fifth most populous nation.

Excluded from government were candidates loyal to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. His supporters took the most seats even though they were forced to run as independents and they allege they would have enjoyed a decisive victory without rigging.

The United States has called for an investigation of fraud claims but declined to comment on the makeup of the coalition, which will need to be formally approved by the National Assembly.

"As is the case whenever you see coalition politics taking place inside any given country, that's a decision for that country itself, not something that we would weigh in on," Miller said.

To a question regarding US Ambassador Donald Blome's meeting with former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari just two days after the general elections and whether the US had directed its diplomatic mission to engage with officials or politicians who could end up in the new government, the State Department spokesperson declined to discuss private engagements of its diplomats. "But we have made clear that we want to see any claims of any irregularities or claimed irregularities fully investigated."

Pakistan was a Cold War ally of the United States and offered logistical support for the war in Afghanistan, but relations soured over US charges that covert Pakistani support helped the Taliban return to power and the more recent US embrace of Pakistan's rival India.