US responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Pakistan-China ties

The United States has refused to “endorse” a statement by Indian politician Rahul Gandhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s had brought Pakistan and China closer due to his policies.

“Pakistan is our strategic partner,” said US State Department spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

“I’ll let Pakistanis and the PRC (People’s Republic of China) speak for themselves about their relationship. These remarks will certainly not be endorsed by me,” Price said during a regular press briefing.

The US said it values its relationship with Pakistan while emphasizing that there was no requirement, as far as Washington was concerned, for other countries to choose between the US and China.

“We’ve made the point all along that it is not a requirement for any country around the world to choose between the United States and China,” Spokesman Ned Price told reporters when asked if Pakistan and China have become closer because “they feel abandoned” by the US.