US President Joe Biden disembarks from Marine One upon arrival on October 13, 2022, in Santa Ana, California, where he made remarks that have outraged Pakistan. (AFP photo)

Islamabad, October 16 (RHC)--- Pakistan has summoned the American ambassador to Islamabad for an official demarche on US President Joe Biden’s remarks on the country’s nuclear weapons.   In a speech on Thursday, Biden questioned the safety of Pakistan's nuclear program.  He said Pakistan is "maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world" as it has "nuclear weapons without any cohesion.”

Biden’s apparently off-the-cuff remark was made in the context of the changing geopolitical situation globally.  The U.S. president claimed the world was changing rapidly and countries were rethinking their alliances.  “And the truth of the matter is — I genuinely believe this — that the world is looking to us. Not a joke.  Even our enemies are looking to us to figure out how we figure this out, what we do.”  Biden went on to boast that the U.S. has the capacity to lead the world.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was amazed by Biden’s strange comments.  "As far as the question of the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear assets are concerned, we meet all – each and every – international standard in accordance with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," he said at a press conference on Saturday.

“If there is any question as to nuclear safety, then they should be directed to our neighbor India, who very recently accidentally fired a missile into Pakistani territory,” Bhutto-Zardari added, according to the website of the English language newspaper DAWN.  “This is not only irresponsible and unsafe but raises genuine and serious concerns about the safety of nuclear-capable countries,” he pointed out.

“I am surprised by the remarks of President Biden […] I believe this is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that is created when there is a lack of engagement.”