Pakistan rejects US demand for limiting N-program

NEW YORK (92 News) – Pakistan's permanent representative to United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi has on Wednesday said that Pakistan has rejected the US demand to limit its nuclear program on unilateral basis. Briefing the media persons in New York, she said that the prime minister clarified the US Secretary of State John Kerry that instead of demanding Pakistan to limits its nuclear program, the US should demand India to limit its nuclear program. “Pakistan is conveying a firm message that there can't be any compromise on this fundamental right of Kashmiris,” she added. On the occasion, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech for the UN General Assembly has been drafted. “The prime minister will present the case of Indian-occupied Kashmir in front of the whole world in a concrete way,” he added. “The premier would also speak about Indian involvement in Pakistan during his address.” Earlier, US State Department Spokesman John Kirby said that the US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed deep concern over the Indian brutalities in the Occupied Kashmir during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Briefing the media, he said that John Kerry stressed the need for restraint in nuclear weapons programs in the meeting. “The US Secretary of State commended recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence,” Kirby added. He said that both leaders discussed long-term bilateral partnership and to build upon the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. “The US Secretary praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for over 40 years and highlighted the importance of continued respect for humanitarian principles,” he said. Kirby said that John Kerry also commended Nawaz Sharif for restoring economic stability to Pakistan over the last three years and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation on climate change priorities.