Pakistan to summon US ambassador, issue demarche over Biden's remarks

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Saturday that Pakistan has summoned 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 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.

Talking about India’s accidental firing of a missile into Pakistan on March 9, the foreign minister furthered, “As far as I’m concerned in our neighbourhood, if there is any question as to nuclear safety and security then those questions should be directed to our neighbour India who very recently, accidentally, fired a missile into Pakistani territory. That is not only irresponsible, that is not only unsafe but raises genuine concerns about the safety of nuclear-capable countries.”

“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 at 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.

Read: Biden's statement reflects govt's failed foreign policy: Imran

The minister also stated that we will have many more opportunities to engage with the United States and address any concerns and misconceptions they might have in regard to the specific question.

The statement by the foreign minister comes after United States President Joe Biden said earlier that Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”, it was reported on Saturday.

The US president made the comments while addressing a Democratic congressional campaign committee reception on Thursday.

“And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” Biden was quoted as saying in a transcript of the address, published on the White House’s website.

The minister further said that an opportunity should be allowed to the US to explain the position.
"I don't believe that this should negatively impact Pakistan and the United States. We will continue on the positive trajectory of the engagements that we are having so far," added the PPP chairman.

Floods in Pakistan
The foreign minister said one out of seven Paksitani is affected by floods in the country. He added that Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, southern Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh are badly affected by the floods, adding that a lot of areas are still inundated.

"We are still distributing aid to the affectees and as the foreign minister, trying to get aid from all over the world," he added.

By-elections in the country

Bilawal furthered that by-elections have been announced in the country, adding that this is a misconception that he does not give importance to these elections as he was unable to campaign.

"These by-elections are very important. By-elections are to be conducted on October 16 across the country.... these by-elections are of importance to the people of those areas."

The minister further said these elections wll give people an opportunity to select a representative from their area who can solve their problems and address their issues.

Bilawal further said that the struggle against the PTI chief started from Karachi and that the people of the country and Sindh 'said goodbye' to Imran.