- The Pakistani nation suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists, Miller says.
- He says: “We have a shared interest in threats to regional security.”
- US opposes 'violent actions', says Miller of May 9 riots
WASHINGTON: Recognizing Pakistan's unparalleled sacrifices and contributions in the war against terrorism, the US State Department has said that the Pakistani nation suffered immensely at the hands of terrorists.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller made the comments during a news conference in Washington on Monday.
“The Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists.”
The Pakistani nation and armed forces have made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The country has lost more than 80,000 lives at the hands of terrorists, besides huge economic losses. The people and the armed forces have successfully fought a long battle that has lasted for more than a decade to get rid of the menace of terrorism.
In 2023 alone, more than 260 officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army laid down their lives in the line of duty. In addition to this, at least 750 civilians lost their lives in the terror attacks last year, according to data shared by APPLICATION.
Miller also said they have a shared interest in threats to regional security.
“We partner with a range of Pakistani civilian institutions and regularly engage with the Pakistani government to identify opportunities to build capacity and strengthen regional security, including at our annual high-level counterterrorism dialogue.
In response to another question about the May 9 riots, the spokesman said his country legitimately supports freedom of expression and opposes violent actions.
“We support legitimate and free expression, including the right to protest and the right to peaceful assembly, and we oppose violent actions.”
He said all protests must be carried out peacefully and that “governments must act in a manner consistent with the rule of law and freedom of expression.”
The May 9 riots erupted across much of the country following the arrest of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan in a £190m payout last year. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were jailed for their role in violence and attacks on military installations.
During the protests, miscreants attacked civilian and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 as “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
