pakistan: U(S)-turn ‘confident of Pakistan ability to secure nuclear assets’

The US mentioned it has confidence in Pakistan’s means to regulate its nuclear arsenal, backtracking days after President Joe Biden expressed concern on this regard and led Pakistan to summon the US ambassador.

“The US is assured of Pakistan’s dedication and its means to safe its nuclear property,” State Division spokesman Vedant Patel advised media individuals on Monday. “The US has all the time seen a safe and affluent Pakistan as important to US pursuits and, extra broadly, the US values our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan.”

The remarks got here after a gathering between Derek Chollet, State Division counsellor, and Pakistan’s envoy to the US, Masood Khan. Chollet tweeted after the assembly that he met the ambassador to debate the “longstanding partnership” between the 2 nations and to “additional develop ties”.

In current weeks, the US has made a number of makes an attempt to enhance ties with Pakistan, together with internet hosting its military chief and lengthening assist for the F16 fighter jet programme. What additionally riled India was a go to by the US envoy to Pakistan to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and calling it ‘Azad Kashmir’.

Consultants in India are baffled over the Democrat-led administration’s efforts to enhance ties with Pakistan regardless of Pakistan’s lack of efforts to regulate cross-border terrorism. Additionally they mentioned that particular efforts being made within the curiosity of the Pakistan Military are paying homage to the previous.

“Whereas the US intelligence believes that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal shouldn’t be protected, primarily based on credible inputs, the State Division is attempting to maintain Pakistan on its proper aspect to make use of it towards Russia at any time when such a chance arises,” an individual acquainted with Pakistan-US ties advised ET on situation of anonymity. “Initially, Biden acknowledged the view of intelligence companies. Later, Patel acknowledged the view of the State Division. They’re additionally conscious of Pakistan’s duplicity through the warfare on terror however they nonetheless take into account Pakistan a strategic asset.”

Pakistan had summoned the US ambassador following remarks by Biden throughout a speech on the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee on October 13. Two days later, Pakistan’s international minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari mentioned Pakistan had summoned the US ambassador to demand an evidence of Biden’s assertion.