The United States seems to consider Nawaz Sharif a ‘safe’ and ‘predictable’ option as Pakistan heads towards general elections, an American publication said on Monday.

An article in Time Magazine titled ‘Pakistan’s Elections Are Being Brazenly Rigged. Why Doesn’t the U.S. Seem to Care?’ said that America’s attitude towards the election is both ‘personality-driven and structural’.

It mentioned in particular how a State Department spokesperson had brushed aside a question about PTI’s treatment in the run-up to the elections, saying he had not seen such reports.

The article also notes that the US looks to promote democracy as ‘the defining challenge of our time’ but has not taken a stronger stance on elections and seems to be reticent about which way things are going.

American engagement in Pakistan boils down to wanting the South Asian nation to keep a lid on terrorism and stabilise relations with its historic nemesis India—and Khan’s record is poor on both, the article said.

However, it added that the US seems to have a more favourable view of Nawaz Sharif.

“In the near term, however, from the US perspective of Sharif is a safe, predictable pair of hands who won’t rock the boat with India,” the article said.

“The State Department seems to be quite comfortable with Nawaz Sharif,” politics professor Tariq Amin-Khan was quoted by Time as saying.

The article added that the US could come to regret not taking a stronger line regarding the elections as they could be considered a ‘sham’ later on.

Time also noted that a government that does not have popular support could face social unrest in the context of a deteriorating economy.

“My greatest fear is that this election is going to be called out for being a sham,” said Anita Weiss, a professor of international studies at the University of Oregon. “And there will be riots all over Pakistan that it can barely endure because of the severe economic crisis.”

However, the article noted that regardless of who emerges as victor in the elections, the US is likely to continue treating the army as the centre of power as seen by General Asim Munir’s visit last year.