Govt, PTI ramp up efforts to 'win over' Washington.

WASHINGTON -- The love-hate relationship between Pakistan and the United States seems to be front and centre during the current political crisis, as well. Publicly, both the opposition and the ruling parties are trying not to seem too keen on Washington; but privately, both are giving the impression that 'America is on our side'.

The US - particularly the Biden administration - however, is maintaining a safe distance from both sides. State Department officials, when asked to comment on the current political situation in Pakistan, insist that 'they support democracy and the democratic procedure' and 'not any particular political party or leader.'

This stance was reiterated in the latest US report on human rights as well, which indicates that Washington is carefully watching the current political situation in Pakistan, but has no desire to get involved, so far.

US scholars and lawmakers too have avoided taking sides in this dispute, although, unlike US officials, they have not minced words in depicting the situation in Pakistan as alarming.

Senior US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who negotiated the peace deal with the Taliban working closely with Pakistan, released two sets of tweets this week, noting that the Pakistani government might ask the Supreme Court to disqualify Imran Khan from running for election and even prohibit PTI in the next few days.

The government might 'set up Imran Khan as Enemy No 1 of the State,' he wrote and warned that 'such steps will only deepen Pakistan's triple crises: political, economic, and security.'

Ambassador Khalilzad pointed out that some countries had already 'suspended planned investments' in Pakistan while the IMF's 'support remains doubtful.' In this situation, the proposed steps against Imran Khan might cause international support for Pakistan to 'decline further' and might increase 'political polarization and violence.'

As expected, Islamabad rejected his comments as 'interference in Pakistan's internal affairs' while the foreign ministry advised him not to 'offer unsolicited advice.'

Pakistani officials, however, have not responded to the US State Department's report on human rights - released in Washington on Monday.

Since the report covers the first year of the coalition government, as well as the final months on the Imran Khan regime, both sides are...