Pakistan snubs US invite for ‘Summit for Democracy’

Pakistan on Wednesday snubbed the United States invitation for Islamabad to join the virtual “Summit for Democracy”.

“We are thankful to the United States for inviting Pakistan for participation in the Summit for Democracy, being held virtually on 9-10 December 2021,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in a statement.

The FO reminded Washington that Pakistan is a “large functional democracy with an independent judiciary, vibrant civil society, and a free media”.

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“We remain deeply committed to further deepening democracy, fighting corruption, and protecting and promoting human rights of all citizens. In recent years, Pakistan has instituted wide-ranging reforms aimed at advancing these goals. These reforms have yielded positive results,” said the spokesperson.

Pakistan reiterated that Islamabad values its “partnership with the US” and expressed its wish to expand the relationship “both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation”.

“We remain in contact with the US on a range of issues and believe that we can engage on this subject at an opportune time in the future,” said the spokesperson.

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The FO stated that Islamabad in the meanwhile would “continue to support all efforts aimed towards strengthening dialogue, constructive engagement, and international cooperation for the advancement” of shared goals.

What is Summit for Democracy?

According to the State Department, the United States is holding a two-day virtual Summit for Democracy as per the vision of the Biden-Harris Administration.

The summit is being hosted by US President Joe Biden to “bring together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector” to set an “affirmative agenda for democratic renewal”. The moot will also focus on tackling the “greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action”.