NEW YORK: The United States of America has taken up human rights violations for over two dozen times with the authorities in Islamabad in the recent past, it emerged at a webinar today.
The webinar was organized on US-Pakistan relation in which, among others, US Principal Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asia at the State Department Elizabeth Horst spoke and answered questions from the participants.
When asked why there was no effective reaction from the US government to the alleged human rights violations in Pakistan, Ms. Horst said that the stance of the US government was very clear on rights abuses.
She said the US government had always raised the issue with Islamabad and in the recent past at least on 25 occasions authorities in Pakistan were approached by Secretary Blinken and other senior diplomats and conveyed the US concerns.
Even the previous day, she added, the issue was taken up with the caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
In reply to a question about PTI’s allegation of US biasness, Ms Horst said America never prefers any political party on any other in Pakistan. We are in contact with all the political parties and stakeholders, including the PTI, she added.
Ms Horst also said relations between the US and Pakistan were of a complicated nature and the citizens of both the countries should keep this in mind and avoid heeding to rumors.
She said during the past few years America had utilized an mount of 9.7 million dollars on the promotion of democratic values in Pakistan, including protection of the rights of minorities, freedom of expression and creating awareness about and safeguarding human rights.
About terror outfits in Afghanistan and the threat to peace in neighboring countries especially Pakistan from their activities, the US diplomat said Pakistan had rendered valuable services in the fight against terrorism and America values these sacrifices.
Terrorism is an international issue and has to be dealt with collectively.
About the poor financial situation in Pakistan, Ms Horst said that talks between Washington and Islamabad were ongoing about a trade investment agreement and long-term economic projects.
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