WASHINGTON: The US State Department said on Tuesday that it would continue to work with the caretaker government in Pakistan as it has with previous governments.

Asked to comment on the new caretaker setup in Pakistan, department’s deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said: “We are aware that the PDM government has been dissolved and note the announcement of [former] Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister.”

Affirming that a change of government does not affect bilateral relations between the two allies, he said: “We look forward to working with the interim prime minister and his team as they prepare to hold elections.”

The United States, he said, would “continue to partner with Pakistan on areas of mutual interests, including our interest in Pakistan’s economic stability, prosperity and security”.

The official noted that the caretaker government has been tasked to hold free and fair elections, adding that Washington would cooperate with the new rulers in conducting the elections according to democratic norms and the rule of law.