We look forward to working with new PM Shehbaz Sharif, says ties with Pakistan are ‘vital’

The United States said it looked forward to working with the new Pakistani government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as it again refuted claims by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan about America’s role in the overthrow of his government.

Pakistan’s relations with the United States have been lukewarm, especially under the Biden administration.

The ties hit a new low after Khan, 69, who was ousted last week by a vote in parliament, accused the United States of conspiring to overthrow his government. The US government has outright denied the allegations.

Responding to a question about Imran Khan’s claims about the US role in overthrowing his government with the help of opposition parties, Price said there was “no truth” there. inside. Our message has been clear and consistent on this. There is no truth in the allegations that have been made. We support the peaceful maintenance of constitutional and democratic principles, including respect for human rights. We do not support, whether in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world, one political party over another, he said.

The United States has also refuted Khan’s claims several times before. We support broader principles, including the rule of law and equality before the law, Price said.

A day earlier, Khan supporters staged anti-American protests in Washington DC. They attacked a Pakistani-American journalist and some members of the community as they continue to accuse the United States of playing a role in regime change. Khan had alleged that Donald Lu, deputy secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, was involved in the “foreign plot” to overthrow his government.

Price said the United States agreed with the Pakistani military’s assessment which said it had no evidence to suggest the Biden administration threatened or was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Imran Khan.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the media wing of the Pakistan Army – Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said on Thursday that the word conspiracy was not used in the statement issued after a meeting of the national security committee convened last month to discuss a controversial letter that then-prime minister Khan said threatened to overthrow his government.

Pakistan’s mighty military, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its 73-year existence, has so far wielded considerable power in security and foreign policy. Khan waved a “threatening letter” on March 27 at a public rally ahead of his ouster, saying his government had been threatened by the US government and the opposition was involved in a plot to overthrow him.