Islamabad Denounces US Claims as Baseless and Illogical
Islamabad has firmly rejected recent allegations by a senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration labeling Pakistan’s missile program as an “emerging threat” to the United States. The claims, made during a speech by US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, were described by Pakistan’s Foreign Office as “unfounded, devoid of rationality and sense of history.”
US Allegations and Pakistan’s Response
During a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Jon Finer suggested that Pakistan’s advancements in long-range ballistic missile technology could enable it to strike targets beyond South Asia, including the US. He expressed concerns that Pakistan’s growing missile capabilities placed it alongside nations like Russia, China, and North Korea in terms of potential threats to the United States.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office swiftly responded, refuting these claims and emphasizing the country’s peaceful intentions toward the United States. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional stability and described the allegations as an attempt to distort reality and undermine Pakistan’s strategic capabilities.
Strategic Context and Regional Stability
Pakistan has long maintained that its strategic capabilities, including its missile program, are designed solely to preserve peace and stability in South Asia. “Pakistan cannot abdicate its right to develop capabilities that maintain credible minimum deterrence in the face of evolving threats,” the Foreign Office stated.
The statement also pointed to the hypocrisy of ignoring more potent missile programs in the region, an indirect reference to India’s missile capabilities. Pakistan underscored the need for a balanced approach to security, urging the US to engage constructively rather than bracketing Pakistan with adversarial states.
A Legacy of Cooperation
The Foreign Office reminded the US of Pakistan’s sacrifices and contributions to their bilateral relationship, which dates back to 1954. Despite these efforts, Pakistan has faced unjustified scrutiny, which undermines trust and cooperation.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a positive relationship with the US while asserting its sovereign right to develop strategic capabilities essential for national defense.