US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has said the administration was working with Pakistan for bringing stability to Afghanistan, as it considered the former as an “important stakeholder and partner” in the region.

“We are aware of the reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, but we’d refer you to the Pakistani government for comment,” he said in response to a query during the weekly press briefing on Monday.

Taliban authorities on April 16 summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul to protest against the apparent military strikes inside Afghanistan by Pakistani forces. Moreover, the Foreign Office on Sunday urged the government of Afghanistan to secure the Pakistan-Afghan border region and take stern actions against the individuals involved in terrorist activities here.

“We view Pakistan as an important stakeholder, an important partner, with whom we are engaging and have engaged as we work together to bring about an Afghanistan that is more stable, is more secure, is more prosperous, and importantly an Afghanistan that respects the basic and fundamental rights of its people, all of its people, including its minorities, its women, its girls,” Price added.

Hailing the bilateral ties, the US State Department spokesperson said the relationship with Pakistan has been a “vital one” and the administration looked forward to continuing it 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,” he said, “We have already congratulated the new Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on his election, and we look – we work – excuse me – we look forward to working closely with his government.”