A senior United States official has welcomed the announcement of timely elections in Pakistan as a positive development.

Elizabeth Horst, who serves as the principal deputy assistant secretary and deputy assistant secretary responsible for Pakistan, made the remarks while talking to Pakistani reporters.

Horst added that she was optimistic that the elections held would be free and peaceful.

She also said that the US was the largest market for Pakistani exports and trade between the two countries had amounted to $9 billion in the last year alone.

Horst added that the US had directly invested $250 million in Pakistan in the previous year and had also provided $215 billion for flood relief efforts.

She also said that Pakistan and the US had a strong partnership and had converging interests in many areas.

The secretary also condemned the recent terror attacks in Pakistan and expressed grief over the lives lost.