Ties with Pakistan vital for US: State Dept

WASHINGTON: A State Department spokesman said on Tuesday that relationship with Pakistan is vital for the United States and the Obama administration will continue to support Islamabad as best it can.

Asked to comment on a reported statement by Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz that Pakistan will find a replacement if it cannot get F-16s from the US, spokesman John Kirby said that these were sovereign decisions that nations make with respect to their defence needs.

He, however, added that as for relationship with Pakistan was concerned, it’s an important one. “It’s critical, it’s vital in that particularly in that part of the world and it’s a relationship we have absolutely no intention of losing focus on or diminishing in any way,” he said.

To a question, the spokesman said that the United States will continue to support its relationship with Pakistan and fully stood behind the kinds of support it has provided to that country over the last many years, specifically support to counterterrorism capabilities and needs. “We are going to continue to look for ways to improve that cooperation as best we can,” he added.