Hours after U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome met with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan on Tuesday, the state department confirmed that during the meeting the issue of human rights was discussed.

The state department spokesman, Mathew Miller, also said that the United States wants to ensure safety of every prisoner including Imran Khan. He did not deny that the meeting between Blome and Ayub was arranged under the auspices of Ambassador Blome.

The meeting comes amid heightened political tensions in Pakistan, with the opposition accusing the government of human rights violations and fabricated cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The PTI has also expressed concern about safety of its leader Imran Khan.

Following the meeting, the leadership of Khan’s party, PTI, told media that they had expressed their concerns about these issues to Ambassador Blome.

In response to a question about the meeting, State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller reiterated the U.S. position of neutrality in Pakistan’s internal political affairs. He also emphasized the importance of upholding basic human rights.

Miller also commented on the upcoming visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan and the recent visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

He stated that the U.S. supports diplomatic engagement between its partners and encouraged such interactions. However, he expressed skepticism about Iran’s intentions given its “destabilizing behavior” in the region.

The following is an excerpt of US state department briefing on Pakistan.

QUESTION: A Pakistan question real quick?

MR MILLER: Sure, yeah.

QUESTION: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently met with the Pakistan ambassador, and he relayed to the ambassador that Imran Khan’s safety in prison was a high priority of the United States. Did he coordinate that conversation with the State Department? Does the State Department share that view that his safety in prison is a high priority of the U.S.?

MR MILLER: So I’m not aware of any coordination. It may have happened; may have been conversations between this building and Senator Schumer, his staff, and I’m just not aware of them. It’s certainly possible. But obviously, we want to see the safety and security of every prisoner in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world – something that every person, every detainee, every prisoner, is entitled to basic human rights and protection under the law.

QUESTION: Thank you. U.S. ambassador in Pakistan Don Blome met with the current leadership of Imran Khan’s party, and after that meeting there were, like, dozens of stories circulating in Pakistani media. Could you just tell us something about that, as that meeting was arranged under guest of U.S. Ambassador Don Blome?

MR MILLER: Dozens of stories circulating about a meeting with our ambassador?

QUESTION: (Laughter.) Different stories.

MR MILLER: What a new thing. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Different stories. Every single —

MR MILLER: I haven’t got a Donald Blome question in a while.

Yes, U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, and other senior members of the opposition to discuss a broad range of issues important to the bilateral relationship. This includes U.S. support for continued economic reforms, human rights, and regional security.

QUESTION: Sir, after that meeting, the leadership of PTI, Imran Khan’s party, told media that they have expressed their concerns about human rights violations, fabricated cases against Imran Khan, freedom of speech, and others. What is your position on these issues, sir?

MR MILLER: So we have addressed this any number of times, and our position is the same as we have stated it previously, which is we take no position on elections in Pakistan, we take no position with respect to any particular political party, and of course, we want to see basic human rights upheld, as I said in my answer to Ryan’s question.

QUESTION: So one last question.

MR MILLER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Saudi Crown Prince MBS is visiting Pakistan in new few days. Recently, Iranian president was in Pakistan too. So how you see these trips when there is too much tension in the region?

MR MILLER: So certainly, we always support diplomatic engagement between our partners. I don’t have any further comment on the visit between the Saudi crown prince to Pakistan, but it’s – that kind of diplomatic engagement is routine and something that we support and encourage.

But when it comes to Iran, of course, while we welcome regional de-escalation, we’ve seen the outbreak of limited conflict between Iran and Pakistan; we do remain skeptical about Iran’s intentions given its continued destabilizing behavior broadly in the region.