The United States has stated its support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on matters of concern. In response to a question regarding the potential disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the US State Department spokesperson reiterated that the US does not take positions endorsing specific candidates in other countries. However, the spokesperson emphasized that the US supports free, open, and fair elections in all nations.
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that Pakistan is willing to engage in discussions with its neighbor, believed to be India, on serious issues, as wars are not a solution. Speaking at the inaugural session of the “Pakistan Minerals Summit” in Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif expressed Pakistan’s desire to maintain friendly relations with all countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
The Prime Minister lamented the fact that Pakistan has faced three wars in the last 75 years, resulting in increased poverty and lack of resources that could have been spent on development and prosperity. He emphasized the need for neighboring countries to address serious issues through sincere discussions, stressing that unless abnormalities are resolved, normalcy cannot be achieved.