The US said on Tuesday that it is looking forward to working with the interim administration led by Anwaar-ul-Haq, which will take the country through to an election scheduled in a few months.
“We look forward to working with the interim prime minister and his team as they prepare to hold elections,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel during a press conference.
The US was aware of the fall of the allied government and the nomination of Kakar as caretaker prime minister, according to a deputy spokeswoman.
“Of course, we will continue to work with Pakistan on issues of mutual interest, such as Pakistan’s economic stability, prosperity, and security, as well as the conduct of free and fair elections and respect for democracy and the rule of law.”
Politicians from both parties — the former administration and the opposition — applauded the selection and hoped that the temporary Prime Minister would secure free and fair elections in the country.
Kakar’s first responsibility as president of a country that has been plagued by political and economic uncertainty for months is to form a cabinet to govern the country as it prepares for an election that might span months.
According to the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament.
However, census data was finally released earlier this month, and the exiting government stated that the election commission required time to revise seat boundaries.
For months, there has been talked that the vote will be postponed as the authorities work to stabilise a country experiencing overlapping security, economic, and political issues.
Terrorism and Afghanistan
In response to a question, the spokesperson emphasised that the US was in constant contact with Pakistani leaders to discuss Afghanistan in depth, including through the two countries’ counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral discussions.
“Quite candidly, we have a shared interest with Pakistan in combating threats to regional stability, and we remain ready to work with Pakistan to combat militant and terrorist groups.”
According to the spokesman, the United States also backs the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and protect the safety and security of its residents in a way that promotes the rule of law.
His comment was in response to a declaration by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, who said that weaponry worth $7 billion left behind by American forces was now being utilised against Pakistan.
Terrorist groups located in Afghanistan, according to the ambassador, are not only a danger to Pakistan but also for the United States.
“Today, Pakistan is under attack, and tomorrow, its neighbors may face the same fate.” Prohibited organisations, such as Daesh and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have obtained the most advanced weapons,” stated Pakistan’s ambassador.
He stated that talks with the US were ongoing to obtain the most up-to-date weapons for confronting terrorists armed with modern weapons.
“The US has agreed to give the latest weapons and communication gadgets to Pakistan. We have informed America that there is a need to enhance the capacity of Pakistani forces in their fight against the terrorists.”
