“This is a guy [Xi Jinping] who understands what he wants but has an enormous, enormous array of problems. How do we handle that? How do we handle that relative to what’s going on in Russia? And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion.”
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday summoned the US ambassador for an explanation on a comment made by President Joe Biden in which he called the country “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as it has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.
President Biden made the remark late Thursday while talking about United States foreign policy in California. Later the White House published a transcript of his comments. And that sparked outrage in Pakistan.
Speaking in the context of President Xi Jinping, Biden said, “This is a guy [Xi Jinping] who understands what he wants but has an enormous, enormous array of problems. How do we handle that? How do we handle that relative to what’s going on in Russia? And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion.”
Later Pakistan summoned the US ambassador Donald Blome to the foreign office in Islamabad.
Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at a news conference in Karachi he was “surprised” by Biden’s statement. “I believe this is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that is created when there is a lack of engagement,” he added.
“If there is any question as to nuclear safety, then they should be directed to our neighbour India, who very recently accidentally fired a missile into Pakistani territory,” Bhutto-Zardari said, citing the firing of a supersonic missile into Pakistan on March 9.
“I have discussed it with the prime minister, and we have summoned the ambassador of the United States… for an official demarche.”
However Bhutto said Biden’s remarks were not in any official function as “it was not an address to the nation or an address to the parliament”.
“We should allow them an opportunity to explain this position. I don´t believe that this should negatively impact the relations between Pakistan and the United States.”
The Foreign Minister asserted that he did not think the decision to summon Ambassador Blome would negatively affect Islamabad’s relations with the Americans.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also tweeted that Pakistan was a “responsible nuclear state”.
“We are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards… We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts,” he said.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned Biden’s remarks, saying the US president had reached an “unwarranted conclusion”.
“Having been prime minister, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command and control systems,” Khan tweeted.
“Unlike the US which has been involved in wars, across the world, when has Pakistan shown aggression, especially post-nuclearisation?”
Khan said Biden’s statement showed that the current Pakistani government was a “total failure” on foreign policy and “its claims of ‘reset of relations with US”.
Sharif’s brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif also criticised the US president’s remarks, saying that Pakistan was a “responsible nuclear state”.
“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state that is perfectly capable of safeguarding its national interest whilst respecting international law and practices,” he said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, acting Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem called in ambassador Blome to deliver a demarche conveying Pakistan’s disappointment and concern on the unwarranted remarks made by the President Biden, which were not based on ground reality or facts.
“It was made clear that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and its impeccable stewardship of the nuclear programme and adherence to global standards and international best practices was well acknowledged, including by the IAEA,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a statement.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
