The United States (US) values its relationship with Pakistan, the US StateDepartment reaffirmed on Wednesday, while emphasising that there is norequirement, as far as Washington is concerned, for other countries tochoose between the US and China.
“We’ve made the point all along that it is not a requirement for anycountry around the world to choose between the US and China,” StateDepartment’s Spokesman Ned Price told reporters when asked if Pakistan andChina have become closer because “they feel abandoned” by the US.
“It is our intention to provide choices to countries when it comes to whatthe relationship with the US looks like,” he said. “And we think apartnership with the US conveys a series of advantages that countriestypically would not find when it comes to the sorts of partnerships thatthe PRC (People’s Republic of China) has sought to have around the world,”the department’s spokesman added.
“Pakistan is a strategic partner of the US. We have an importantrelationship with the government in Islamabad, and it’s a relationship thatwe value across a number of fronts,” Price went on to say.
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Islamabad-Washington’s relationship came up when the spokesman was asked tocomment on Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement that China andPakistan are closer than ever before due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’sineffective policies.
“I’ll leave it to the Pakistanis and PRC to speak about their relationship.I certainly won’t endorse those (Gandhi’s) remarks,” the spokesman replied.
