INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
US expressed "deep reservations over participation of terrorist-affiliated individuals" in Polls(Reuters)Washington: The United States said
Friday it was concerned about "flaws" in Pakistan's pre-electoral process, but said it was nonetheless ready to work with the new
government.In a statement, the US State Department acknowledged Wednesday's election results, which saw cricket star Imran Khan win the vote
in an outcome rejected by Pakistan's main parties.However, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: "The United States shares concerns about flaws
in the pre-voting electoral process, as expressed by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan."Those flaws included "constraints placed on
freedoms of expression and association during the campaign period that were at odds with Pakistani authorities' stated goal of a fully fair
and transparent election," she added.Nauert said Washington agreed with the European Union's observation that "positive changes to the legal
framework for elections in Pakistan" were eclipsed by "restrictions on freedom of expression and unequal campaign opportunities."The US also
expressed "deep reservations over the participation of terrorist-affiliated individuals in the elections," but praised Pakistani voters "for
fully rejecting these candidates."Nauert added the US would seek opportunities to work with Pakistan's new government to "advance our goals
of security, stability and prosperity in South Asia," but did not reference the winners by name.The US regularly criticizes Pakistan for
doing too little to tackle the Taliban and accuses the government of offering refuge to terrorists, which it says fuels the conflict in
neighboring Afghanistan.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a
