Cuban envoy takes strong exception to Pak minister Iqbal’s ‘disrespectful’ remarks

Lahore, Apr 26 (PTI) Cuban Ambassador to Pakistan Zener Caro has taken strong exception to the newly appointed Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s “disrespectful” remarks about his country, forcing the minister to issue an apology on Twitter.

During a press conference here on Sunday, Iqbal had said that he wanted Pakistan to become a strong economy and not end up like “Cuba and North Korea.” “We have to set Pakistan on the path of development, like Malaysia, Turkey, China and South Korea,” Iqbal said. Responding to Iqbal’s comments, Ambassador Caro tweeted: “Fortunately, Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s disrespectful mention of Cuba in his press conference in Lahore does not represent and has nothing to do with Pakistanis’ true respect and deep affection for Cuba.” Following the ambassador’s tweet on Monday, Iqbal clarified on Twitter that his remarks were “only in the context of foreign policy”. “We have deep respect for the people of Cuba and deep affectionate relations with Cuba,” the minister tweeted.

The clarification did little to stop the waves of criticism at Iqbal. “Ahsan Iqbal’s ignorance or desperate desire to please his US regime change conspiracy masters has now led him to demean Cuba by saying he doesn’t want Pak to become like Cuba! We would fare a lot better if we had Cuba’s nationalist commitment to stand up against US bullying,” former federal minister Shireen Mazari said in a tweet.

The bilateral relations between Pakistan and Cuba were established in 1955.

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