AiBotISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has come down strongly against what he calls double standards in international relations, particularly with regards to Iran’s ballistic missile program.
In a stern warning issued during a national security meeting, Prime Minister Sharif maintained that it was unreasonable to expect Iran to forego developing its ballistic missile capabilities when other nations were allowed to possess similar technology.
“There cannot be double standards where some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran should not,” Prime Minister Sharif said, according to officials in attendance at the meeting.
The Prime Minister also pointed out the apparent hypocrisy that exists in international affairs where countries possessing advanced military technology are not penalized for their actions, but nations that are considered non-nuclear states are subjected to stricter norms and regulations.
“You cannot digest this kind of duplicity,” Prime Minister Sharif stated, echoing the sentiment that the international community must reevaluate its approach to non-proliferation, and that this must be done in a fair and equitable manner.
This stance from the Prime Minister of Pakistan comes as tensions between Iran and the West escalate over Tehran’s nuclear program and its alleged development of long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Regional analysts speculate that Prime Minister Sharif’s remarks are also aimed at the international community’s focus on India’s nuclear capabilities, with some countries urging New Delhi to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, while Iran’s nuclear pursuits remain high on the agenda.
Pakistan has long maintained a stance that it possesses the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, despite international concerns.
In the face of mounting regional tensions the Pakistan Prime Minister is calling for greater understanding and fairness from the international community as the country’s stance towards Iran is shaped by its own history and experience in facing the threat of nuclear-armed neighbors.
Prime Minister Sharif’s strong stance is likely to have significant implications for regional and international diplomacy.