By: Asem Mustafa Awan
American President Joe Biden called Pakistan the most dangerous country in the world during an event. President Biden did not stop there but also expressed doubts about the nuclear program’s safety.
President Biden’s statement has raised serious concerns and the incumbent Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) government and its foreign policy are now under scrutiny.
Pakistani officials have recently visited America. The authorities have not yet taken the nation into confidence on the floor of the Parliament as what transpired in the United States.
The first response to President Biden’s statement came from Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Chairman Imran Khan who six months ago was at the helm of affairs as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Addressing President Biden, Imran Khan asked on the basis of what information he concluded that Pakistan’s nuclear capability was not secured. Imran Khan asked the second question If Pakistan has not been involved in wars like America, then how can it be the most dangerous country in the world? The need of the hour demands that the entire leadership of PDM including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardai and Maulana Fazlur Rehman should issue a joint communiqué in condemnation of President Biden’s remark. Furthermore it should be clarified that friendship with America does not mean compromise on self-respect and sovereignty of Pakistan.
Cuban ambassador to Pakistan, Zaner Caro, rebuked US President in his tweet that the US has conducted 469 military interventions around the world since 1798 and it is the only country that has used nuclear weapons against another state namely Japan. Why US is imposing inhuman sanctions on other countries is speaks volumes of its dual standards.
President Biden did not consider it appropriate to mention the two important allies of the past, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, in the National Security Policy released last week.
A few days ago, President Biden accused Saudi Arabia of benefiting Russia by reducing oil production. . There is a need to analyze how the United States views Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the future to come in the region.
Saudi Arabia dismissed President Biden’s statement stating decisions related to oil production are made by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and are done by consensus.
Pakistan also needs to show courage as this is not the first time United States has blamed Pakistan’s nuclear capability while it is on record the US has refused to provide F-16, withheld coalition fund after 9/11, introduced Kerry Lugar bill and likes.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a press conference was surprised by President Biden’s statement. He however mentioned raising the issue with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The US Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office and given a demarche.
He refused to accept that Pakistan’s foreign policy is going in the wrong direction. FM’s few sentences failed to serve the purpose during the press conference and quite interestingly he lambasted former Prime Minister Imran Khan instead of answering queries that were on global and regional issues.
India capitalized on President Biden’s statement and went all guns blazing against Pakistan questioning the country’s policies and efficiency. At this hour the nation needs to stand united as the US policies in the region, particularly towards China are raising red flags globally.
The writer is a Special Correspondent at The Dayspring