The United States has conveyed its “deep concerns” to Pakistan over expelling the international staff of Save the Children, a non-governmental organization (NGO) working in Pakistan.
Replying to questions during a press briefing on Thursday, State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Patrick Ventrell said “the United States strongly supports the work of Save the Children in Pakistan”.
He said the US had raised the issue with the Pakistani government, and had urged it to allow Save the Children to continue its “important work”. He said independent NGOs were among the essential building blocks of any healthy democracy. “In Pakistan, as in other countries, we urge governments to help create an environment in which they can operate productively,” he added.
Earlier this week, the government ordered all foreigners working for Save the Children to leave Pakistan within four weeks in the wake of accusations linking the aid agency to a fake vaccination program used to trace Osama bin Laden. The NGO has rejected having any connection with the CIA or the fake vaccination campaign. However, it said it would continue its activities in Pakistan.
