President Alvi says Pakistan will not join nuclear arms race

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has said strategic stability in South Asia is being threatened by the offensive posture and induction of lethal weapons by India.

He was addressing the international conference on Global Non Proliferation Regime: Challenges and Response organized by Strategic Studies Institute in Islamabad on Monday.

The president pointed out that discriminatory exemptions by certain countries for the supply of nuclear technology and advanced military hardware to India has further complicated the regional security and undermined the credibility of non-proliferation regime.

He said that Pakistan is committed to maintain strategic stability in the region and will continue to demonstrate restraint and responsibility. He said nobody should doubt Pakistan’s capability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Mr Alvi urged the International community to take notice of India’s rhetoric of surgical strikes and limited war. He said such a posture just tends to only up the ante. He said the proponents of such fantasies will bear the responsibility of any consequences.

He hoped that good sense will prevail and that both Pakistan and India agree on the framework for strategic stability. He however regretted that our postures for peace have been reciprocated with belligerence.

He said Pakistan has relentlessly pursued the objective of keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons despite the fact that in 1974, detonation had taken place in the region.