President Biden has always viewed a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to US interests, State Department spokesperson.
In response to a correspondent, the State Department spokesperson stated, “President Biden has always viewed a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to US interests, and more broadly, the United States values our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan.”
There was a furor in Pakistan after the US president, on October 13, made remarks about Pakistan and its nuclear assets. The latest State Department statement would, however, help lessen the impact of Biden’s comments.
While Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly protested against Biden’s controversial remarks, Acting Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem had called in the US ambassador to deliver the demarche, the foreign ministry had said, adding that Pakistan’s disappointment and concern were conveyed to the US envoy on the unwarranted remarks. President Biden’s remarks were not based on ground reality or facts, the ministry had maintained.
The acting secretary made it clear that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and its impeccable stewardship of the nuclear program. Also adherence to global standards and international best practices was well acknowledged, including by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“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 ministry added.
