The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Pakistan has dismissed the unfortunate, unfounded, irrational, and non-historical remarks of a senior US official about Pakistan’s missile capability and delivery systems.
In a media inquiry, the Ministry Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, pointed out that Pakistan and the United States have had an enduring relationship since 1954 and characterized the allegations as counterproductive and without proof but pointing to goodwill that Pakistan bears towards the US.
“Pakistan has made monumental sacrifices for this relationship and continues to bear the consequences of US policies in the region,” Baloch remarked, adding that although it is unfortunate, Pakistan is being compared to countries that have thorny relationships with the US.
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As compared to the far more advanced missile development programs in its eastern neighborhood, she added, it is unfortunate that attention is again drawn to the strategic capabilities of Pakistan. These, she forewarned, could put at risk the stability of the region.
Pakistan repeated that its strategic capabilities are meant to safeguard its sovereignty and promote peace and stability in South Asia. “Minimum credible deterrence needs to evolve due to the nature of threats, and this right cannot be compromised,” Baloch said.
Since 2012, consistent efforts have been made by successive Pakistani governments to address the concerns of the US, noting that the strategic program of the country is exclusively defensive and focused on coping with existential threats emanating from its immediate neighborhood. “It should not be perceived as a threat to any other country,” she concluded.