ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan is opposed to nuclear and conventional arms race, and strongly believes in peace and stability in the region.
In his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan’s nuclear capability is solely for self-defense and we are committed to minimum deterrence.
In reply to a question, the spokesman said that we have taken note of US President Barack Obama’s call on both Pakistan and India to work together with a view to ensuring that military doctrines do not move in the wrong direction.
Zakaria said that there is increased understanding at the international level of Pakistan’s genuine concerns regarding rapidly growing Indian conventional and nuclear capabilities and their offensive military designs such as cold start doctrine.
The spokesman said that Pakistan remains ready to discuss arms control and restraint measures with India and our proposal of strategic restraint regime can provide basis for mutually agreed restraint measures and avoidance of unnecessary arms race in the region.
To a question, Nafees Zakaria said that Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) agent Kulbushan Yadav is being interrogated in the light of his confession statement.
The foreign office spokesman said that Pakistan remains concerned at the subversive activities of RAW against Pakistan and its interests in various locations in the region.
The spokesman said that Pakistan’s joint investigation team which visited India is evaluating formation shared by India with regard to the Pathankot terror attack.
The foreign office spokesman said that the recent Nuclear Security Summit in Washington has appreciated Pakistan’s strong national nuclear security regime, command and control system, rigorous regulatory regime and comprehensive export controls. He said that Pakistan qualifies for joining nuclear suppliers group.
To another question, the spokesman said that Iran has assured that it would not allow any other country to use its soil against Pakistan. He said that the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit has opened up new avenues for promoting bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.
