ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal on Friday said Pakistan would continue to take measures to deter external aggression in accordance with its defence needs and region- specific threat spectrum.
Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, he said all states have legitimate right to pursue peaceful use of nuclear technology and Pakistan firmly committed to its policy of restraint in this connection, and expected the same from others.
He said strategic stability in the region was a shared responsibility and must be adhered to by all states for sustainable peace.
Responding to a question about Indian Amy Chief’s statement about the martyrdoms along the Line of Control, the spokesman said such statements were a reflection of Indian mindset while Pakistan still believed in peaceful neighborhood, which must be reciprocated by others.
He said Indian involvement in acts of sabotage in Pakistan was no secret and the case of Kulbhushan Yadav bore witness to the fact.
To another question about a recent bill tabled in the US House of Representatives, the spokesman said we were closely monitoring the bill but it was in preliminary stages.
He said Pakistan had decided not to seek US assistance in future and we placed it on record that past assistance had served the mutual interests of the two countries, and this fact had been acknowledged repeatedly by the United States.
To a question about Afghanistan, Dr Faisal said positive engagement with Afghanistan continued and we believed that an end to conflict through political process and dialogue was a must for ensuring peace in the region.
About Maldives, Dr Faisal said Pakistan had longstanding relations with Maldives and expected that issues settle there as per law and democracy ensured there.
He said four joint working groups between Pakistan and China on energy, transport and infrastructure, Gwadar and security continue to hold consultations and the Chinese delegation is in Islamabad for the meeting of fourth Group on Security.
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