During a recent press briefing, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, addressed concerns involving Pakistan and Afghanistan. The U.S. State Department stated that the detention of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is an internal matter for Pakistan, respecting the country’s sovereignty and in line with a broader discussion on the issue. Patel also addressed the United Nations arbitrary detention committee’s declaration that Khan’s detention was illegal, deferring to the U.N. for further clarification and emphasizing that the U.S. has no additional assessment to offer on the matter.

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In response to a recent statement by a U.N. human rights working group, which stressed that Khan’s detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, the U.S. State Department reiterated its strong call for Pakistan to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms. The department emphasized the importance of respecting freedoms such as expression, association, assembly, and religion. Additionally, the working group alleged widespread fraud on election day, with dozens of parliamentary seats being stolen.

When questioned about the credibility of Pakistani elections and allegations of massive rigging, Patel reiterated that Pakistani elections remain a focus for the U.S. This indicates ongoing discussions with partners in Pakistan regarding this issue. Overall, the U.S. State Department’s message advocates for Pakistan to respect human rights and uphold fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to the detention of Imran Khan and the conduct of elections.