After the US Deputy National Security Adviser claimed that Islamabad would use its nuclear missiles for hostilities, Pakistan on Saturday termed the allegations as “baseless, devoid of rationality and sense of history”.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said: “Pakistan has made it abundantly clear that our strategic program and associated capabilities are aimed solely at deterring and defeating a clear and visible existential threat from our neighbourhood. and should not be considered a threat to any other country.”
“Therefore, any unreasonable assumption of hostile intent on the part of Pakistan by any other country, including the US, is disturbing and illogical.”
Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Feiner, a senior White House official, said on Thursday that Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that would eventually allow it to hit targets outside South Asia, including the United States. can
He said Islamabad’s behavior raised “real questions” about its intentions. “Frankly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Finer said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
His comments came a day after the United States said it was imposing new sanctions on Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, including on the state-run defense agency that oversees the program.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the measures were imposed under an executive order on the National Development Complex and three firms that “target weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.”
However, the Foreign Office said in its latest statement that the US official’s perception of the alleged threat posed by Pakistan’s missile capabilities and delivery methods was “regrettable”.
“These allegations are baseless, devoid of rationality and sense of history,” he said. The statement added that since 1954, Pakistan and the United States have had positive and extensive relations.
The recent spate of US accusations against a major non-NATO ally would be unhelpful to the overall relationship, especially in the absence of any evidence to that effect, the FO said.
“Pakistan has never harbored any ill will in any shape or form against the US and this basic fact has not changed,” the statement said.
On the contrary, he mentioned that Pakistan has made enormous sacrifices for this relationship and is suffering a lot to sustain the attacks as a result of US policies in the region.
The Foreign Office said it was regrettable that the US official had indicated that Pakistan should be bracketed with those perceived to be in hostile relations with the US.
Concerns over Pakistani capabilities are apparently being raised at the behest of others to further exacerbate an already fragile strategic stability in the region, it said, ignoring the manifestations of a much more powerful missile capability in our eastern neighbourhood. can go
“We wish to reiterate that Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are aimed at defending its sovereignty and maintaining peace and stability in South Asia,” the statement said.
MOFA said that Pakistan cannot waive its right to develop capabilities that are consistent with evolving and dynamic threats while maintaining a credible minimum deterrence.
Since 2012, the State Office said that various Pakistani governments, leadership and officials have periodically tried to address US concerns in a positive manner and addressed them when US officials began to discuss the issue. go
In view of the profound sanctity of the strategic program for the defense of the people and country of Pakistan, “our clear reiteration and expression of its intent and purpose, attempt to interfere in it under any pretext, in any form or manner. Nothing is, neither thinkable nor possible.”
The statement said that there is unwavering commitment and complete consensus on this aspect in all political and social spheres of the country.
“Pakistan has always sought to engage constructively with the United States on all issues, including the need for a balanced approach to security and stability in the region. We have a long history of cooperation and look forward to building on this strong legacy.” want to expand.”