On Wednesday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the importance of respecting democracy and ensuring equal treatment for all political parties in Pakistan. During a media briefing in Washington, Miller stated, “Internal political matters in Pakistan are something that we do not take a position on. We urge respect for democracy, respect for human rights, and treatment of all political parties equally.”
Addressing a question, Miller revealed that the Biden administration has requested Congress to allocate $101 million to Pakistan to strengthen democracy and combat terrorism. This ‘multi-purpose aid’ is intended for programs aimed at bolstering democracy and civil society, countering terrorism and extremism, and supporting economic reforms and debt management.
Miller noted, “We have made similar budget requests and received similar budget authority from Congress in the past. We have invested these funds in our partnership with Pakistan and would continue to do so with any new appropriations.”