ISLAMABAD: Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has shockingly tried to justify the US President Joe Biden’s controversial remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear program that prompted a strong response from Islamabad calling the US President remarks ‘factually incorrect and misleading’.
Bilawal Bhutto, while apparently trying to explain President Biden’s remarks, said that the US President did not utter those words in an official meeting or statement, rather it was a fundraiser in which the US President said that Pakistan is one of the most dangerous nations in the world terming Pakistan’s nukes ‘unsafe’.
Tauba! How scared & hesitant he is. Actually trying to justify Biden remarks. Just for his info Biden was speaking at an official Democratic Congressional election mtg & as President his views r always official govt views not his personal views unless he says they r personal! pic.twitter.com/QTAFEY7fol
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 15, 2022
Reacting to the foreign minister’s bizarre explanation, PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari tweeted “How scared & hesitant he is. Actually, trying to justify Biden remarks. Just for his info Biden was speaking at an official Democratic Congressional election mtg[meeting] & as President his views r always official govt views not his personal views unless he says they r[are] personal!”
The frenzy of engagement with US since US regime change conspiracy was operationalised is unprecedented. Visits to US by CrimeMinister, FM, MoS & COAS! FM shd stop apologising for US! No “lack of engagement” or misunderstanding that led to Biden remarks – was calculated statement pic.twitter.com/iH7Ra6z2iT
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 16, 2022
In another tweet, Dr Mazari said “The frenzy of engagement with US since US regime change conspiracy was operationalized is unprecedented. Visits to US by CrimeMinister, FM, MoS & COAS! FM shd[should] stop apologizing for US! No “lack of engagement” or misunderstanding that led to Biden remarks – was calculated statement”
Why would Pakistan’s Foreign Minister decide to explain the context in which the President says Pakistan maybe one the most dangerous places & its nuclear weapons without cohesion – your foremost task @BBhuttoZardari as FM is to reject such baseless against Pak by @POTUS https://t.co/L5rLCnjbCu
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) October 15, 2022
Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institue Director at The Wislon Center, tweeted “Biden’s comments certainly won’t help improve Pakistani public perceptions of the US, but I doubt it’ll impact bilateral relations in a big way. This is where finally having a formal Amb back in Islamabad will help. Reaction from Pak officials has also been fairly conciliatory.”
Biden’s comments certainly won’t help improve Pakistani public perceptions of the US, but I doubt it’ll impact bilateral relations in a big way. This is where finally having a formal Amb back in Islamabad will help. Reaction from Pak officials has also been fairly conciliatory.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) October 15, 2022
Senior Journalist Nasim Zehra said “Why would Pakistan’s Foreign Minister decide to explain the context in which the President says Pakistan maybe one the most dangerous places & its nuclear weapons without cohesion – your foremost task @BBhuttoZardari as FM is to reject such baseless against Pak by @POTUS”
ہم بلاول بھٹو کو جوبائیڈن کا ترجمان بننے پر مبارکباد پیش کرتے ہیں
— Salman haider (@salmanhaider791) October 15, 2022
Another Journalist Salman Haider congratulated Bilawal on becoming President Biden’ spokesperson.
In diplomacy it is always a bad idea for a country to become a spokesperson of another country.
— Abdul Basit (@abasitpak1) October 16, 2022
“In diplomacy it is always a bad idea for a country to become a spokesperson of another country.” Former Pakistan’s ambassador Abdul Basit advised the foreign minister.
بیان امریکی صدر بائیڈن نے دیا ہے۔ اسکی وضاحتیں ہمارے وزیر خارجہ بلاول زرداری پیش کر رہے ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/jsNZpBNhwC
— Adnan Adil (@adnanaadil) October 15, 2022
اس نے ہمیں بس گالی دی ہے قوم سے خطاب میں انٹرویو میں یا کسی باضابطہ پروگرام میں گالی نہیں دی۔ pic.twitter.com/GGXfRuzmjg
— Tariq Mateen (@tariqmateen) October 15, 2022
Earlier, President Biden had said that Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.
“And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” Biden was quoted as saying in a transcript of the address, published on the White House’s website.
Subsequently, Pakistan hit back at US President Joe Biden for raising doubts over the country’s nuclear security as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday handed a demarche to US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome.
In a separate statement issued by the PM House, Premier Shehbaz termed the US president’s remarks as ‘factually incorrect and misleading’.
