As Pakistan devolves into political chaos in the midst of a protest and the perceived ascendancy of the Pakistani military at the expense of the civilian government, the United States has made it clear that it intends to remain completely uninvolved and has overtly rejected any role as mediator in that country.

“We're in no way involved,” said Jen Psaki, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department at a news conference in front of reporters.

Pakistan was thrown into turmoil when Imran Khan launched a protest movement calling for the resignation of sitting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the widespread belief that the elections held in Pakistan in 2013 were “rigged.”  The United States has remained unwilling to take any role in the dispute and has merely called for both sides to “negotiate.”

In the chaos, racial differences have come to the fore with reports of pamphlets being distributed calling for actions against the Shia community in Pakistan.  The country remains sharply divided, reflecting its political origins rising out of the crumbling British Empire in the mid-20th Century.

The Pakistani Military has always been politically influential and appears to be taking advantage of the current chaos to take on a more active role in ruling the country and setting policy.  Many speculate that the U.S. is reluctant to offend the army because it needs Pakistan as a friendly state in the area and cannot afford to be at odds with the only stable political force in the country, the army.