ISLAMABAD, July 14: The idea of nuclear free South Asia that Pakistan had advocated in the past was no longer relevant, said Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam on Thursday.

She was answering a question regarding Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri’s statement that Pakistan was ready for a bilateral fissile material moratorium with India.

“In 1970s and 80s, Pakistan promoted the idea of nuclear free zone in South Asia … After the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in 1998, this concept is no longer relevant,” the spokesperson said.

However, articulating Pakistan’s broad policy approach, Ms Aslam said it was for strategic restraint in South Asia and specific ideas could be discussed in that context.

She recalled Pakistan had proposed a strategic restraint regime to India and said: “So far there has been no progress on this proposal which remains on the table.”—Q.A.