US Warns Pakistan about Election Irregularities, Strains Ties
Published on: March 21, 2024.
Filed under:
US Warns of Strained Relations with Pakistan Over Election Irregularities
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – The United States has expressed concerns about the conduct of Pakistan’s recent election and the disruptions of media and social media, including the shutdown of X, formerly known as Twitter. Donald Lu, the top US diplomat for South Asia, stated that relations between the two countries would suffer if Pakistan does not address the irregularities and consider rerunning affected elections.
Lu emphasized the importance of a democratic process that upholds Pakistan’s own constitution, stating that a lack of such a process would be an impediment to the 76-year partnership between the United States and Pakistan. However, he clarified that the United States does not currently plan to make any major military sales to Pakistan.
In the lead-up to the election, former prime minister Imran Khan, a prominent cricket star, was imprisoned and banned from running for office. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party faced a crackdown. Despite this, PTI candidates managed to secure the most seats in parliament. However, Shehbaz Sharif from rival party became the prime minister through a coalition with another party.
Khan has frequently criticized the US military and claimed that his removal as prime minister two years ago was engineered by the United States. Supporters of Khan have pointed to a leaked Pakistani diplomatic document alleging that Lu voiced concerns about Khan’s relationship with Russia during the Ukrainian invasion.
Lu vehemently denied these accusations during a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing, stating that the conspiracy theory was false. He reaffirmed the United States’ respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and the principle that the Pakistani people should choose their leaders through a democratic process.
It’s worth mentioning that Lu has faced personal threats and harassment due to these allegations, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Source: [BSS/AFP (opens in a new window)](https://www.bssnews.net)
