By Imran Nasir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army top commanders on Tuesday reposed  full confidence in Pakistan’s nuclear command and control structure and security arrangements for safeguarding the country’s strategic assets.

In a statement issued after the 252nd Corps Commanders’ Conference, ISPR said Forum reposed full confidence in Pakistan’s robust nuclear command and control structure and security arrangements related to country’s strategic assets. 

“As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan has taken all measures necessary to strengthen its nuclear security regime, at par with international best practices, forum was informed.

The conference was chaired by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The participants took a comprehensive review of the Army's prevailing internal and external security situation and operational preparedness. 

“Forum was apprised on army’s assistance to civil administration for relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood affected areas and post flood situation particularly in Sindh and Balochistan,” its said.

 While expressing satisfaction over operational preparedness of the formations, COAS reiterated Pakistan Army’s resolve to defend the motherland against all threats.

 COAS lauded formations’ operational readiness and sustained efforts during flood relief duties. 

The military leadership’s statement comes after the US President Joe Biden recent remarks  about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal last week, saying that the country may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world”.

Pakistan's government was also strongly reacted to Biden’s remarks and rejected it.

Later, the Foreign Ministry also summoned the US ambassador to Islamabad and strong demarche conveyed to Washington over President Joe Biden remarks.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that Acting Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem called in US Ambassador Donald Blome to deliver a demarche on the recent remarks made by US President Joe Biden on 14th October during a Congressional Campaign Committee reception.

"Pakistan’s disappointment and concern was conveyed to the US envoy on the unwarranted remarks, which were not based on ground reality or facts," said the ministry.

"It was made clear that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and its impeccable stewardship of the nuclear program and adherence to global standards and international best practices was well acknowledged, including by the IAEA.

"The real threat to international peace and security was posed by violation of global norms by some states, repeated nuclear security incidents without any accountability, and arms race between leading nuclear weapon states and introduction of new security constructs that disturb regional balance," the  Acting Foreign Secretary to the US envoy.

TheActing Foreign Secretary said that it was essential to maintain the positive trajectory of Pakistan-US relations and the close cooperation between the two sides to build regional and global peace.

On Friday, at a Democratic congressional campaign committee reception, Biden said  Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.