State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday that the United States recognises Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as Pakistan’s interim prime minister and has renewed its support in areas of common interest, such as the holding of free and fair elections.
The US looks forward to working with the temporary prime minister and his team, the spokesperson said in response to a question from a private Pakistani television channel journalist at his daily news briefing.
The stability, prosperity, and security of the Pakistani economy, as well as the holding of free and fair elections, and the respect for democracy and the rule of law, are all areas in which the United States and Pakistan can and should work together.
Check out The next elections and the importance of economic attention.
At the press conference, someone asked what steps the United States is taking to allay fears that terrorist groups will make advantage of abandoned military hardware in Afghanistan and to increase Pakistan’s capacity to fight back against them.
This military hardware, the writer noted, is now being utilised against Pakistan by the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh/ISIS. This was according to Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan.
In response, Patel stated that “regular communication with the Pakistani leadership to discuss Afghanistan in detail,” including through “our counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations.”
The spokesman said, “We have a shared interest with Pakistan, quite candidly, in combating threats to regional stability and remain ready to work with Pakistan to combat militant and terrorist groups.”
To which he added, “We also support the government’s own efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law,” before declining to elaborate and referring reporters to the US Department of Defence.
Strongest Interim Administration
On Monday, Kakar was sworn in as prime minister to lead a caretaker administration until legislative elections can be held amid the country’s most difficult economic time.
Kakar’s appointment as interim premier marks the most powerful transitional government in the country’s history as it braces for a period of transition amid economic and political difficulties.
Because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding Kakar’s appointment, he will have unmatched power in his new role.
Kakar said he will finish the IMF programme in its entirety.
Until the newly elected government takes office, the caretaker administration is usually tasked with running day-to-day operations. However, Section 230 of the Election Act, 2017 was changed in a joint session of parliament on July 26 of this year, giving the interim administration the authority to assume economic management.
Following the change, the caretaker administration will be able to handle the state’s routine business in addition to exercising unique powers regarding existing projects and programmes and even making key policy decisions.
Due to enormous political and economic obstacles, the incoming interim government may not function like a typical transitional government.
The temporary government must guarantee that the current IMF programme is followed. However, the government must follow the obligations and guarantees it made in the most recent IMF review.
