Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reacted strongly to US President Joe Biden’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, caling them factually incorrect and misleading.

“Over the past decades, Pakistan has proven be a most responsible nuclear state, wherein its nuclear programme is managed through a technically sound and foolproof command and control system,” said the statement.

US President Joe Biden had said that nuclear-armed Pakistan might be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” while commenting on the country’s nuclear programme and the state of political dynamics in the region.

“And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying in a transcript of his address at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Reception on Friday. “Nuclear weapons without any cohesion.”

Biden was speaking about the “role” of China in the region where Russia, India and Pakistan are its neighbours.

In 1998, Pakistan became the seventh country to become a nuclear power after successful tests.

Accrording to one website that focuses on man-made threats, Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile comprises 165 warheads.

“Pakistan has also consistently demonstrated responsible stewardship of its nuclear-weapons capability, marked by a very strong commitment to global standards, including those of IAEA on non-proliferation, safety, and security,” said PM Shehbaz in his statement.

The statement said that the main threat to international peace and security was posed by ultra nationalism, violation of human rights in regions that are struggling against illegal occupation, violation of global norms by some states, repeated nuclear security incidents and arms race among leading nuclear weapon states and introduction of new security constructs that disturb regional balance.

It added that Pakistan and the US have a long history of friendly and mutually beneficial relationship.

“At a time, when the world is confronted by huge global challenges, it is critically important that genuine and durable efforts are made to recognize the real potential of Pakistan-US relationship, while avoiding unnecessary comments.

“It is our sincere desire to cooperate with the US to promote regional peace and security,” it concluded.