Biden’s nuclear remarks spark outrage in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

US President Joe Biden’s recent statement describing Pakistan as “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” and questioning the safety protocols of its nuclear weapons stirred a diplomatic row between the two countries on Saturday.

Incensed by the off-the-cuff remarks at a most critical moment in the patchy relations between the Cold War friends, Islamabad summoned the US ambassador for an explanation.

Biden made the remarks late Thursday night while talking about US foreign policy during a private Democratic Party fundraiser in California, but the White House later published a transcript of his comments on Saturday, sparking outrage in Pakistan.

Read more: Pakistan rejects ‘factually incorrect, misleading’ remarks of US president

“What I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” the US president had said.

Though the White House spokesperson later played down Biden’s remarks, insisting the US president wanted a stable and prosperous Pakistan, the damage had already been done.

The remarks triggered an immediate backlash from Pakistan, which summoned the US envoy in Islamabad to explain Biden’s uncalled-for remarks.

“I am surprised at President Biden’s statement,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reacted at a news conference in Karachi hours after the White House released Biden’s transcript.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet dismissed concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

“Let me reiterate unequivocally: Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] requirements. We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Acting Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem called in US Ambassador Donald Blome to deliver a demarche conveying Pakistan’s disappointment and concern on the unwarranted remarks made by the US President, 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 press release.

The real threat to international peace and security was posed by violation of global norms by some states, repeated nuclear security incidents without any accountability, and arms race between leading nuclear weapon states and introduction of new security constructs that disturb regional balance, it was added.

“It was essential to maintain the positive trajectory of Pakistan-US relations and the close cooperation between the two sides to build regional and global peace,” the spokesperson said.

However, the statement also emphasised Pakistan’s desire to seek “friendly and mutually beneficial” relationship with the US.

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

“Pakistan and the US have a long history of friendly and mutually beneficial relationship. At a time, when the world is confronted by huge global challenges, it is critically important that genuine and durable efforts are made to recognize the real potential of the Pakistan-US relationship, while avoiding unnecessary comments. It is our sincere desire to cooperate with the US to promote regional peace and security,” it read.

Bilawal, who is also the PPP chairman, told reporters in Karachi that if there was any question about nuclear safety, then it should be directed to India, which very recently had accidentally fired a missile into Pakistani territory.

“This is not only irresponsible and unsafe but raises genuine and serious concerns about the safety of nuclear-capable countries,” he pointed out.

“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,” he added.

Bilawal noted that Pakistan had embarked on a “journey of engagement” and just marked the 75th anniversary of bilateral engagements with the US.

“If this was such a concern, I imagine it would’ve been raised in that meeting with me, I believe that we have just started our journey of engagement and we will have many more opportunities to engage with the US and address any concerns and misconceptions they might have to this specific question,” the minister said.

Also read: Country 'perfectly capable' of safeguarding national interests, Nawaz reacts to Biden's remarks

However, Bilawal was confident Biden’s statement would not sour relationship between the two countries.

“I don’t believe it negatively impacts the relations between Pakistan and the US. We will continue on the positive trajectory of engagements we are having so far,” the foreign minister maintained.

He also tried to play down Biden’s statement by suggesting that it was a fundraiser event and not an official statement, adding that this aspect must be looked into as well.

The White House said President Biden’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear programme were “nothing new” as he had made such comments before.

In response to a question during a media briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden viewed a “secure and prosperous” Pakistan as critical to “US interests”.

“So that is something [about what his views have] been on Pakistan,” the press secretary added.

“More specifically he’s made those comments before, so that is nothing new [about] what you heard from him last night,” Karine said.