The US has been called out for its strong support to the Indian opposition while staying mum on the arrest of opposition leaders in Pakistan, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was debarred from contesting the recently concluded federal election.
During a regular briefing at the US State Department on Wednesday, a journalist asked spokesman Matthew Miller about the different standards applied for alleged "attempts to silence the opposition" in India and Pakistan.
In the case of India, the Biden administration has said that it has been "closely monitoring" the case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the federal financial crime investigator Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month for allegedly recieving kickbacks in distributing alcohol licenses.
Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the main opposition Congress Party have rejected the charges and questioned the timing of the arrest just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha election and a case is ongoing in Indian courts.
However, US perceived "interference" in India's judicial and legal matters hasn't gone down well with many in India, including the government, which demarched a senior US diplomat last week.
Despite India's diplomatic warning, the US has doubled down on its stance, with the State Department spokesperson also calling for "fair, transparent, and timely legal processes" in the case of Kejriwal as well as over Congress charges that its bank accounts have been frozen by tax authorities for alleged non-compliance of Income Tax (IT) laws.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described US' comments on India's electoral and legal processes as "unacceptable".
What Did the US State Department Say?
Reacting to charges of double standards, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refused to agree with the characterisation.
"We have made clear on a number of occasions that we want to see everyone in Pakistan treated consistent with the rule of law, treated with respect for human rights, as is our position with respect to any country in the world,” Miller told the briefing.
"We have made clear on a number of occasions that we want to see everyone in Pakistan treated consistent with the rule of law, treated with respect for human rights, as is our position with respect to any country in the world,” Miller told the briefing.