Pakistan’s future leadership is for Pakistani people to decide: US State Dept spokesperson
WASHINGTON (92 News) - US State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel has said that Pakistan’s future leadership is for the Pakistani people to decide, adding that the US interest continues to be in the democratic process.
Responding to queries about the Feb 8 elections during a briefing on Thursday, he said: "We also have not been ambiguous about how we feel very strongly that a free and independent media are vital institutions that undergird healthy democracies by ensuring that an electorate can make informed decisions and hold the government to account. We believe journalists play a critical role in covering fair and transparent elections. We also continue to be concerned by any report that may be out there of restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association and the press."
To a question about the Pak-Iran tension, he said: "Matt spoke a little bit about this a couple of weeks ago. We will let Pakistan speak to its own military operations. We of course are concerned about escalating tensions in the region, particularly as Iran continues its destabilizing and provocative actions. And we’ll continue to remain in close touch with Pakistani counterparts, and we’ll continue to monitor the region closely."
He said that they feel very strongly that a free and independent media are vital institutions that undergird healthy democracies by ensuring that an electorate can make informed decisions and hold the government to account. "We believe journalists play a critical role in covering fair and transparent elections. We also continue to be concerned by any report that may be out there of restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association and the press."
Responding to a question regarding a message to the US in the wake of the Pak-Iran tension, he said: "That is, of course, for Pakistani authorities and their foreign affairs officials to determine. But should any country around the world be interested in continuing to call on Iran to cease its malign and destabilizing activities, its activities that particularly in the Red Sea are making international waterways and legitimate commerce unsafe, we would welcome any country continuing to press Iran to curb its support for those kinds of actions."
To another question about Pakistan foreign secretary's remarks regarding India's involvement in transnational killings in Pakistan after Canada and the US, he said: "I am not aware of this specific report and I would let our – the Government of Pakistan and the Government of India speak more about this."
