Senior US diplomat Nuland urges ‘timely’ and ‘fair’ elections in Pakistan

Senior U.S. diplomat Victoria Nuland spoke on Tuesday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and discussed the importance of “timely, free and fair elections” in the South Asian nation.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement, “Acting Deputy Secretary Nuland and Foreign Minister Jilani discussed the importance of timely, free and fair elections in a manner consistent with Pakistan’s laws and constitution.”
Pakistani politics has been in a crisis for over a year, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan – who was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence last year – being at the center of it.
Khan blamed the United States and Pakistan’s military for his ousting. Both Washington and the military have denied his claims. The State Department statement on the call between Nuland and Jilani made no mention of Khan.