ISLAMABAD: The United States on Tuesday said its relationship with Pakistan was “vital” to promote peace in the region, adding that it looked forward to working with the new administration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The statement was made during a state department news briefing after a journalist asked about Pakistan’s alleged air strikes in Afghanistan that were said to have killed dozens of people.

“For almost 75 years, our relationship with Pakistan has been a vital one,” said the department spokesperson Ned Price. “We look forward to continuing that work with the new government in Pakistan across regional and international issues. This is work that has the potential to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and throughout the region.”

Regarding Afghanistan, he said the US was “aware of the reports of Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan, but we’d refer you to the Pakistani Government for comment.”

The state department spokesperson maintained that Washington viewed Pakistan as “an important stakeholder, an important partner” with which it was trying to make Afghanistan more stable, secure and prosperous.

“We have already congratulated the new Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on his election, and we ... look forward to working closely with his government,” he added.

The United States and Pakistan have witnessed a deterioration in their relations since the election of President Joe Biden. The situation between the two countries did not improve even after the pullout of international forces from Afghanistan last August.

More recently, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan described his ouster from power in a no-trust vote as part of an elaborate international conspiracy hatched in Washington.

However, US officials have denied allegations that their country orchestrated regime change in Pakistan.