US President Joe Biden\u2019s recent remark on Pakistan\u2019s nuclear capabilities that came hot on the heels of the United Nations General Assembly\u2019s vote on Russian-annexed territories of Ukraine last week from which Islamabad abstained has stirred an entire new storm which would lead the two countries to murkier waters. The US President\u2019s remark, which he made during a Democratic campaign tour for mid-term Congressional vote, is likely to have long lasting strains on Islamabad\u2019s relations with Washington and would add to distrust between the countries. Notwithstanding the immediate backlash, Islamabad summoned the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Donald Blome, to the foreign office and handed him over a demarche on the country\u2019s concern and its nuclear protocols and safeguards.
\nObviously pre-occupied with Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, the Biden\u2019s administration has successfully rallied its Nato allies, but alienated many other nations on the world\u2019s map in its effort to defeat Russian forces in Ukraine. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons to defend its mainland and territories wrenched from Ukraine during the war. And this has seemingly frustrated the US leader that it the first time since the Cold War and the World War Two that Russia and its sympathizers have challenged the unipolar world led by Washington.
\nPakistan\u2019s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari explained Islamabad\u2019s position on Ukraine at a press conference in Karachi and revealed that Pakistan abstained from the UNGA resolution, which called on countries not recognize the four Ukrainian region which Russia had annexed, because the resolution contained language from other resolutions on which Pakistan had abstained from voting in the past. Pakistan\u2019s foreign minister said, he was looking forward to seeing a similar resolution or concern from the US side on the Indian action to annex Kashmir, which was a complete violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions. Pakistan\u2019s leadership irrespective of political affiliation and ideology stands firm by the obligations set by the comity of nations for maintaining lasting peace in the region.
\nWashington needs to reassess its views about Pakistan\u2019s nuclear program and accept its role and sacrifices made in combating terrorism. The US-Pakistan relationship trajectory after Afghanistan withdrawal suggests a broader cooperation beyond security. Pakistan\u2019s leadership is seeking a long term constructive economic relations with US and other nations. As a responsible nuclear power and strategic country in the South Asia, Pakistan will continue to be relevant to US. The ties established after the hasty withdrawal of US led forces from Afghanistan should not spoiled by such unwarranted remarks. Any shift in Washington\u2019s policy towards Islamabad would have adverse effects a broad-based relationship that is anchored in trade, investment, and people-to-people linkages.
\nThe US President\u2019s rhetoric would spoil Pakistan efforts and would work no less than President Putin\u2019s threat to scare the world. The world needs to know that Pakistan is a responsible country with the highest standard of safeguards for its nuclear arsenal, which are on a par with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
US President Joe Biden\u2019s recent remark on Pakistan\u2019s nuclear capabilities that came hot on the heels of the United Nations General Assembly\u2019s vote on Russian-annexed territories of Ukraine last week from which Islamabad abstained has stirred an entire new storm which would lead the two countries to murkier waters. The US President\u2019s remark, which he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[11270],"class_list":{"0":"post-292215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorial","7":"tag-islamabad-demarche-washington"},"yoast_head":"\n