WASHINGTON: Relationship with Pakistan is vital for the United States and the Obama administration will continue to support Islamabad “as best we can,” a US State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.
Asked to comment on a reported statement by a Pakistani minister that Pakistan will find a replacement if it cannot get F-16s from the US, the State Department Spokesman John Kirby said that these were sovereign decisions that nations make with respect to their defense 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”.
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.
