US avoids commenting on Imran Khan’s U-turn

• “I’m just not going to comment on evolution of blame game." 
• We’ve consistently said there is no truth to these allegations.
• We have always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan. 

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday avoided commenting on former prime minister Imran Khan’s remarks absolving the Biden administration of involvement in any conspiracy to topple his government and said that his country valued its long-standing ties with Pakistan.

“I’m just not going to comment on the evolution of the blame game, as you say,” Price said in response to a question from a private Pakistani television channel’s correspondent about Khan’s latest U-turn from his previous position of blaming his PTI government's overthrow on the US.

“We have spoken clearly about this ever since these erroneous allegations surfaced. We’ve consistently said there is no truth to these allegations,” Price added.

”We value our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan. We’ve always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to our interests. That very much remains unchanged. Whether it has come to an end or not, we don’t let propaganda, misinformation, disinformation get in the way of any bilateral relationship,” the spokesperson added.

”That, of course, includes our valued bilateral relationship with Pakistan. When it comes to various political players inside of Pakistan, we don’t have a position on one political candidate or party versus another. We support, as we do around the world, the peaceful upholding of democratic, constitutional, and legal principles,” Price said.

Asked about the visit of a Pakistani defence delegation now visiting Washington and prospects of resumption of security assistance to Pakistan, the spokesperson said: “Nothing I’m in a position to share publicly beyond the fact that Pakistan is a valued partner of the United States. It’s valued across many realms.

"Of course, we have a security relationship that is important to us knowing that many of the threats Pakistan faces could well in turn be threats to us. And so we value the work we do together, but I’m just not in a position to offer anything beyond that,” he added.