Pakistan summons U.S. ambassador over Biden’s nuclear remarks

KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s international minister mentioned on Saturday he had summoned the U.S. ambassador after President Joe Biden questioned the protection of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

In a speech on Thursday, Biden mentioned Pakistan is “perhaps one of the harmful nations on the earth” because it has “nuclear weapons with none cohesion”.

International Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari mentioned he was stunned by the feedback. “So far as the query of the protection and safety of Pakistan’s nuclear belongings are involved, we meet all – every – worldwide customary in accordance with the IAEA,” he mentioned at a press convention on Saturday.

A transcript of Biden’s speech was revealed by the White Home on its web site.

Bhutto-Zardari mentioned he did not assume the choice to summon the U.S. ambassador would negatively have an effect on relations with the USA, and mentioned officers may deal with any particular considerations Washington had on the nuclear programme.

“America usually meets with Pakistani officers.” A U.S. State Division spokesperson in Washington advised Reuters in a press release, including: “As customary apply, we don’t touch upon the specifics of personal diplomatic conversations.”

Ties between Islamabad and Washington, as soon as shut allies, have simply began to heat after some years of frosty relations, largely on account of considerations about Pakistan’s alleged assist of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies this assist.

The international minister mentioned worries about Pakistan’s nuclear programme weren’t raised on his latest journey to Washington, the place he held intensive conferences, together with on the State Division.

Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Writing by Rupam Jain; Modifying by Kirsten Donovan, Ros Russell and Sandra Maler

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.