After President Joe Biden expressed concern and Islamabad summoned the US ambassador, the United States (US) declared on Monday that it had faith in Pakistan’s capacity to control its nuclear arsenal.
Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the State Department, told reporters that “the United States is convinced of Pakistan’s commitment and its ability to secure its nuclear assets.”
The official continued, “The US has always valued our long-standing collaboration with Pakistan and has always seen a stable and prosperous Pakistan as essential to US interests.”
At a private Democratic Party fundraiser in California on Thursday, Biden casually mentioned Pakistan’s nuclear programme as he started talking about the difficulties facing China’s President Xi Jinping, a strong ally of Pakistan.
“And Pakistan, which I believe to be among the world’s most dangerous countries. According to a White House transcript, Biden added, “Nuclear weapons without any cohesiveness.”
Pakistan, which is pleased to be the only Islamic country with a nuclear weapon, called US Ambassador Donald Blome to express its displeasure.
Pakistan is a “responsible nuclear state,” according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also stated that safety precautions are taken “with the utmost seriousness.”
Biden’s comments shouldn’t damage relationships, according to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who also noted that the president wasn’t speaking at an official event.
Bhutto Zardari, who just travelled to Washington, called for increased communication, but Biden didn’t seem particularly interested in meeting with his Pakistani colleagues in person.
