Days after the first cargo of Russian oil arrived in Pakistan, a United States State Department official said that the decision was Pakistan’s ‘own choice’ in context of its energy needs.

“I would say, first of all, with respect to that transaction, we have been very clear that each country has to make its own choices based on its own circumstances in terms of energy imports,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We understand that these are choices that every country must make for themselves,” he said.

Asked if Pakistan’s payment for the oil in Chinese yuan instead of US dollars was a sign of the latter currency’s decreasing strength, Miller said, “No, I don’t think so.”

However, Miller added that the oil had been sold by Russia to Pakistan at discounted rate below market price, which was a sign that US price caps were effective. He added that the US estimated that price cap had deprived Russia of $100 billion in oil sales that could have funded its war in Russia.

Asked about Ambassador Masood Khan’s statement that Russian oil had been bought by Pakistan after getting US approval, Miller said that he could not comment on private dimplomatic engagements.

will not speak to private diplomatic conversations we had, but we have always made clear, as I just said a minute ago, that each country has to make its own choice with respect to its energy imports.

“We coordinate with our allies and partners to mitigate the impact of Russia’s sales,” Miller said.

Miller also clarifiied that the US does not have any sanctions on the sale of Russian oil.