WASHINGTON: Principal Deputy Spokesperson at US State Department Vedant Patel said Pakistan is a sovereign country, which can take decisions freely.
He was responding to a question regarding Pakistan’s non-participation in the Summit For Democaries in US, while addressing a press conference. Vedant Patel said: “We’re certainly sorry that Pakistan chose not to participate. But it is a sovereign state and it can make decisions for itself.”
This certainly does not change our willingness to continue to work with Pakistan. Washington and Islamabad work together on a broad range of issues, the US official added.
Responding to a question regarding rise of Taliban attacks in Pakistan, Vedant Patel said that there is a deep security partnership with Pakistan, including counterterrorism efforts.
Read more: US distances itself from Zalmay Khalilzad’s statements about Pakistan
Replying to a question regarding US relations with Islamabad and New Delhi, Vedant Patel said that US values its important relationship with both India and Pakistan as well, and these relationships stand on their own and are not a zero-sum proposition.
Earlier, 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.”
