The US State Department spokesman has deflected a question about a possible meeting between US Ambassador in Pakistan with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
Addressing a news briefing in Washington on Wednesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller made it crystal clear that the United States does not intervene in Pakistan’s internal political affairs.
Matthew Miller was responding to a question that “US Congressman Brad Sherman has tweeted and mentioned about his meeting with Under Secretary Donald Lu once again to go ahead to tell the ambassador in Pakistan to meet Imran Khan. Hundred and one million democracy funds, but the biggest leader in the country is languishing in jail for one year, and the US ambassador is not meeting him despite the Congress telling him. How do you see this?”
The spokesman replied “How do I see it? So first of all, Donald Lu comes up more in this briefing that any assistant secretary in the building. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten questions about him.
“I’m not aware – you said it was a tweet from Brad Sherman? Haven’t seen this tweet, so I can’t respond to it. I would say – as you know, because you and I have discussed this issue on a number of occasions – internal political matters in Pakistan are something that we do not take a position on. We urge respect for democracy, respect for human rights, and treatment of all political parties equally.”
Miller said the US upholds principles of democracy and human rights, but maintains a neutral stance regarding Pakistan’s domestic political affairs. He reiterated that the United States advocates for equal treatment of all political parties within Pakistan, underscoring the importance of a fair and democratic process.
When asked about details of over $100 million proposed aid for Pakistan to strengthen democracy and fight terrorism, Miller said “We did just make a budget request to Congress – for 101 million dollars to Pakistan to strengthen democracy and fight terrorism. We would use that for the types of programmes to strengthen democracy and civil society, to counter terrorism and extremism, to support economic reforms and debt management. We have made similar budget requests and similar budget authority – received similar budget authority from Congress in the past and made – and invested, used the funds that were appropriated by the Congress to invest in our partnership with Pakistan. And we would use funds, should they be appropriated by the Congress, to invest in similar programmes as we have in this fiscal year and in previous ones.”