By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON - The US top diplomat Antony J. Blinken telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and stressed to respect for democratic principles in the country amid ongoing actions against the opposition party and its workers.

US Secretary of State made his telephone call to Zardari just two-day ahead of the scheduled hearing in the US Congress’s foreign affairs committee where the lawmakers will discuss the ongoing actions against former prime minister Imran Khan, his supporters, and actions media and journalists.

“Secretary Blinken stressed that democratic principles and respect for the rule of law are central to the U.S.-Pakistan relationship and these values will continue to guide this partnership forward,” State Department’s spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Secretary Blinken also discussed the latest attacks in the region and the security situation in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas.

“The Secretary noted the Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks and affirmed the United States’ commitment to continued partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism,” Miller said.

He also discussed the destabilizing effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine as well as the United States and Pakistan’s shared interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

In a separate statement, Pakistan's foreign ministry said that the two foreign ministers underlined the importance of constructive engagement between Pakistan and the United States for promoting peace, security and development in the region. 

While, they also discussed the regional security situation, including the threat from terrorism, and reaffirmed their desire to continue close cooperation for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“The Foreign Minister noted the importance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative especially from the perspective of developing countries and concerns regarding food security and inflation, and stressed the need for continued concerted efforts with a view to reviving the deal at the earliest,” said in the statement.