WASHINGTON: The love-hate relationship between Pakistan and the United States seems to be front and centre during the current political crisis, as well. Publicly, both the opposition and the ruling parties are trying not to seem too keen on Washington; but privately, both are giving the impression that “America is on our side”.

The US — particularly the Biden administration — however, is maintaining a safe distance from both sides. State Department officials, when asked to comment on the current political situation in Pakistan, insist that “they support democracy and the democratic procedure” and “not any particular political party or leader.”

This stance was reiterated in the latest US report on human rights as well, which indicates that Washington is carefully watching the current political situation in Pakistan, but has no desire to get involved, so far.

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US scholars and lawmakers too have avoided taking sides in this dispute, although, unlike US officials, they have not minced words in depicting the situation in Pakistan as alarming.

Senior US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who negotiated the peace deal with the Taliban working closely with Pakistan, released two sets of tweets this week, noting that the Pakistani government might ask the Supreme Court to disqualify Imran Khan from running for election and even prohibit PTI in the next few days.

The government might “set up Imran Khan as Enemy No 1 of the State,” he wrote and warned that “such steps will only deepen Pakistan’s triple crises: political, economic, and security.”

Ambassador Khalilzad pointed out that some countries had already “suspended planned investments” in Pakistan while the IMF’s “support remains doubtful.” In this situation, the proposed steps against Imran Khan might cause international support for Pakistan to “decline further” and might increase “political polarization and violence.”

As expected, Islamabad rejected his comments as “interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs” while the foreign ministry advised him not to “offer unsolicited advice.”

Pakistani officials, however, have not responded to the US State Department’s report on human rights — released in Washington on Monday.

Since the report covers the first year of the coalition government, as well as the final months of the Imran Khan regime, both sides are interpreting it the way they like: some see it as an expression of support for the PDM government, while others are trying to read between the lines to find a soft corner for Mr Khan.

Those who claim that the report favours the current rulers, base their claim on a paragraph which notes that the former prime minister was removed through a parliamentary procedure, not a military coup.

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“This parliamentary election, conducted in accordance with procedures in the constitution, followed a successful no-confidence vote in the National Assembly called by opposition parties, which replaced the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf administration by bringing to power a coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz,” the report observes.

In another paragraph, the report notes that Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff to the former prime minister, “stated police assaulted and tortured” him after he was arrested on August 9 for allegedly making “false, hateful, and seditious” comments regarding the military on a television talk show.

The report also says that in October, PTI Senator Azam Swati “alleged he was stripped and beaten by authorities” after his arrest for anti-military comments he made on Twitter.

But supporters of the current government point out that the report uses words like “stated and alleged,” and refrained from endorsing these claims.

However, both parties invite equal amounts of scorn when the report makes 10 references to Imran Khan and at one place it also quotes from a May 29 directive of the Islamabad High Court, which blames Mr Khan as well as Shehbaz Sharif, for an “undeclared tacit approval of enforced disappearances.”

At another place, the report also mentions Shahzain Bugti’s claim that he resigned as special assistant to the prime minister “after the Imran Khan-led government reneged on its promises concerning Balochistan.”

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2023