KARACHI: PakistanThe Secretary of State said on Saturday that he had summoned the US ambassador after President Joe Biden question the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear program.
In a statement on Thursday, Biden said Pakistan “may be one of the most dangerous countries in the world” because it has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was surprised by the comments. “As to the question of the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets involved, we meet all – each and every – international standard in line with the IAEA,” he said in an interview. press conference on Saturday.
A transcript of Biden’s speech was published by The White House on its website.
Bhutto-Zardari said he did not think the decision to summon the US ambassador would negatively affect relations with the US, adding that officials could address any specific concerns. Washington included in the nuclear program.
Relations between Islamabad and Washington, once close allies, are just starting to warm up after a number of years of frosty relations, largely due to concerns about Pakistan’s alleged support of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies this support.
The foreign minister said worries about Pakistan’s nuclear program were not raised during his recent trip to Washington, where he held extensive meetings, including at the State Department.
In a statement on Thursday, Biden said Pakistan “may be one of the most dangerous countries in the world” because it has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was surprised by the comments. “As to the question of the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets involved, we meet all – each and every – international standard in line with the IAEA,” he said in an interview. press conference on Saturday.
A transcript of Biden’s speech was published by The White House on its website.
Bhutto-Zardari said he did not think the decision to summon the US ambassador would negatively affect relations with the US, adding that officials could address any specific concerns. Washington included in the nuclear program.
Relations between Islamabad and Washington, once close allies, are just starting to warm up after a number of years of frosty relations, largely due to concerns about Pakistan’s alleged support of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies this support.
The foreign minister said worries about Pakistan’s nuclear program were not raised during his recent trip to Washington, where he held extensive meetings, including at the State Department.
