Biden's comment about nukes is rejected by PM Shehbaz as "factually false and deceptive."

 

According to a press statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has denounced US President Joe Biden's remarks on Pakistan's nuclear weapons as "factually inaccurate and deceptive."

According to Biden, Pakistan may be "one of the most dangerous countries in the world," as it possesses "nuclear weapons without any coherence," during a Democratic congressional campaign committee reception on Thursday.

Biden was cited as stating the following in a transcript of the speech that was posted on the White House website: "... And what I think is perhaps one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear arsenals devoid of cohesiveness

In response, the PMO stated that Pakistan had established itself as a "most responsible nuclear state" over the years, with a nuclear programme that was overseen by a "technically sound and impenetrable command and control structure."

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) standards on non-proliferation, safety, and security are only a few examples of the global norms to which Pakistan has continuously shown responsible management of its nuclear-weapons capacity.

According to the press release, "ultra-nationalism, human rights violations in areas battling illegal occupation, some states' violations of international norms, repeated incidents involving nuclear security, an arms race among the top nuclear weapon states, and the introduction of new security measures that upset regional balance" pose the real threat to international peace and security.

It went on to say that there was a long history of "friendly and mutually beneficial relations" between Pakistan and the US, and that at a time when the world was facing enormous challenges, it was "critically important that genuine and durable efforts are made to recognise the real potential of Pakistan-US relationship."

According to the press release, "unnecessary comments" should be avoided, and Pakistan "sincerely" wants to work with the US to advance regional security and peace.

PM Shehbaz claimed on Twitter that Pakistan was unquestionably a responsible nuclear state that took nuclear safety "very seriously."

Let there be no ambiguity, he wrote in a tweet, adding that he was glad that the nation's nuclear assets had the "best" safeguards in accordance with the IAEA's standards.

In a rebuttal to Biden's remarks, Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan's record as a responsible nuclear power was "unimpeachable, and internationally acknowledged." Unlike the alleged presence of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) in Iraq, which were ultimately proven to be false, according to US statements.

The defence minister noted that "We have also previously given military support to the very armed forces whose commander in chief wrongly challenges our 'cohesion'."