US supports free expression, opposes violence: State Dept

WASHINGTON: The US Department of State on Monday reiterated that Pakistan and the United States have a shared interest in combating threats to regional security.

The department’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, during the daily briefing acknowledged that the Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists. “We Partner with a range of Pakistani civilian institutions and regularly engage the government of Pakistan to identify opportunities to build capacity and strengthen regional security including in our annual high level counter terrorism dialogue,” he said.

Responding to a question about the May 9 attacks in Pakistan, the spokesperson said that the US supports “legitimate free expression including the right to protest, the right to peaceful assembly and we oppose violent actions.” At the same time he maintained that “all protests should be conducted peacefully and governments should deal with it consistent with the rule of law and respect for free speech.”