- White House defends United States President Joe Biden’s remarks.
- “He’s made those comments before, so that is nothing new.”
- Biden alleged that Pakistan’s nuclear programme lacks “cohesion”.
OREGON: The White House has said that US President Joe Biden’s remarks pertaining to Pakistan’s nuclear programme were “nothing new” as he has made such comments before.
The President of the United States had earlier alleged that Pakistan’s nuclear programme lacks “cohesion” and that it was among the world’s most dangerous nations.
In response to a question during a press gaggle on Friday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden views a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to US interests.
“So that is something [about what his views have] been on Pakistan,” the press secretary said. “More specifically he’s made those comments before, so that is nothing new — what you heard from him last night.”
Defending Biden’s remarks, the press secretary said that Biden believes in a secure and prosperous Pakistan, and so he thinks that’s “important to US interests”.
The US president’s remarks drew strong criticism from Pakistan, with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemning the statement.
The prime minister, in a statement earlier today, said: “Pakistan rejects the remarks reportedly made by the US President, which are factually incorrect and misleading.”
More to follow…
