ISLAMABAD: PML-N Quaid and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has declared that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and is perfectly capable of safeguarding its national interests.
He said this in reaction to the remarks of US President Joe Biden that Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.
In a couple of tweets uploaded on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said “Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state that is perfectly capable of safeguarding its national interest whilst respecting international law and practices. Our nuclear program is in no way a threat to any country.”
Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state that is perfectly capable of safeguarding its national interest whilst respecting international law and practices. Our nuclear program is in no way a threat to any country. Like all independent states,
The former prime minister said “Like all independent states, Pakistan reserves the right to protect its autonomy, sovereign statehood and territorial integrity.”
Pakistan to issue demarche
Addressing a press conference today, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan has summoned the Ambassador of the United States to Pakistan Donald Blome for an official demarche following US President Joe Biden’s remarks about the country’s nuclear assets.
While addressing a press conference in Karachi, the foreign minister said, “I have discussed it with the prime minister and we have summoned the Ambassador of the United States to Pakistan Donald Blome to the Foreign Office of Pakistan for an official demarche.”
“As far as the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets are concerned we meet all, each and every international standard in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he added.
“I am surprised by the remarks of President Biden I believe this is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that is created when there is a lack of engagement. Luckily, we have embarked on a journey of engagement. We have just marked the 75th anniversary of our bilateral relations in a very engaging manner at the State Department, and the level of secretary of state and the foreign minister of Pakistan. If this was such a concern, I imagine that it would have been raised in that meeting with me,” he added.
