US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Pakistan’s new Interim Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, on his appointment, expressing the US’s intent to maintain and advance their mutual dedication to economic prosperity.
Blinken’s remarks on the social platform “X” mirrored the sentiments of State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, who emphasized Washington’s eagerness to collaborate with the Kakar-led interim government. The US highlights the importance of Pakistan holding “free and fair elections” in adherence to its Constitution, recognizing the citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
Kakar Responds and His First Tasks
In response to Blinken’s post, Caretaker PM Kakar expressed gratitude and underlined the interim government’s focus on facilitating a transparent electoral process in Pakistan, abiding by the Constitution. Kakar emphasized the significance of Pakistan-US ties, particularly their mutual focus on economic growth, democracy, and regional stability. As Kakar assumes office amidst ongoing political and economic challenges, his immediate responsibility is to form a cabinet to govern during the lead-up to the anticipated elections.
Despite the recent dissolution of Parliament and the expected elections within 90 days as stipulated by the constitution, challenges like the recent census data publication and the need for boundary adjustments have led to speculations about potential election delays.