Cuban envoy resents Iqbal’s ‘disrespectful’ remarks

Says minister’s remarks has nothing to do with Pakistanis’ true respect and deep affection for Cuba

Cuba’s Ambassador to Pakistan Zener Caro on Monday expressed his resentment of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s “disrespectful” remarks about his country, forcing the minister to explain his position on the microblogging website.

At a media talk on Sunday, Iqbal had said that Pakistan wanted to become a strong country for which it needed a strong economy at the global level, adding that he did not want Pakistan to turn into Cuba or North Korea.

Responding to Iqbal’s comments, Ambassador Caro tweeted: “Fortunately, Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s disrespectful mention of Cuba in his press conference in Lahore does not represent and has nothing to do with Pakistanis’ true respect and deep affection for Cuba.”

Following the ambassador’s tweet, Iqbal clarified on Twitter that his remarks were “only in the context of foreign policy”. He said: “We have deep respect for the people of Cuba and deep affectionate relations with Cuba.”