WASHINGTON – The United States has expressed deep concern over the rallies being staged by Difa-i-Pakistan Council across Pakistan.
Responding to question ‘What’s US reaction to the Difa-e-Pakistan Council rally in Karachi? Has the United States raised concerns with the Pakistani Government?’, a State Department spokesperson on Thursday said “The US government is concerned about the recent public appearances of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed, including at a recent rally in Karachi. Lashkar-e-Taiba, and its front group Jamaat-ud-Dawa, is internationally sanctioned because of its associations with Al-Qaeda. We have and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1267/1989. That resolution calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories.”
Agencies add: To another question about the trilateral summit being held in Islamabad, the spokesperson said “Washington is not against relations between the Iran and its neighbours: We are not against their trade. We are not opposing economic accords at the trilateral summit. We want that all neighbours should work for peace in Afghanistan.”
The question of greater trade access for Pakistani textiles to the US market resonated at another State Department briefing when a number of journalists raised the issue after Islamabad’s envoy Sherry Rehman argued for realisation of the long-sought Pakistani demand. State Department spokespeson, fielding repeated questions, said generally the US is committed to strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Islamabad but said she would get back with details on the specific question of Pakistani demand for preferential treatment of its textile products.
For its part, Nuland said Washington is investing in the economic health and strength of Pakistan. “We are investing in energy.  We’re investing in education. We are investing in democracy programmes and development, so and micro-lending and all of these kinds of things. So it’s not about improving our image. It’s about helping to strengthen a stable, peaceful, democratic Pakistan.”