US distances itself from Zalmay Khalilzad's statements about Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Principal Deputy Spokesperson at US Department of State Vedant Patel said Tuesday that the United States has nothing to do with Zalmay Khalilzad’s statements about the political situation in Pakistan.

At a press conference in Washington, Vedant Patel said Zalmay Khalilzad’s statement has nothing to do with our American foreign policy and his statements are in his personal capacity.

“Zalmay Khalilzad’s statement did not represent the Biden administration, his statement had nothing to do with American foreign policy.”

He said that violence, harassment, or threats do not interfere in politics, we encourage political parties to respect the law.

Read more: Imran Khan’s arrest to deepen prevailing crisis: Zalmay Khalilzad

A spokesman for the US State Department said that people should be allowed to choose their country’s leader through democratic and constitutional means.

It may be noted that former US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad supported Imran Khan’s stance in two consecutive statements and said that elections should be held soon in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office objected to Zalmay Khalilzad’s statement, but other PDM leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, also condemned Zalmay Khalilzad’s statements, calling them interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.