ISLAMABAD: Foreign Sec­retary Aizaz Chaudhry called on Friday for settlement of disputes in South Asia — a reference to troubled relations with India — for addressing chronic problems of poverty and under-development plaguing the region, a task for which Islamabad needs a “willing and constructive” partner.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in connection with the launch of Nuclear Paper Series, which included three reports on global nuclear regime and strategic stability and their impact on Pakistan, Secretary Chaudhry said: “A peaceful neighbourhood is the sine qua non to build prosperous societies.”

“We need a willing and constructive partner to tackle myriads of daunting challenges that beset our region including disease, poverty, illiteracy, climate change and environmental degradation,” Mr Chaudhry said, while reiterating the government’s belief that region’s scarce resources needed to be devoted to the socio-economic development of people living here.

The secretary recapped the events that forced Pakistan to acquire nuclear weapons, including the world’s indifference towards its security concerns.

“This left us with no option but to develop nuclear deterrence in the pursuit of undiminished and equal security which is a right enshrined in the final document of the UN General Assembly’s First Special Session on Disarmament.” He said that even after nuclearisation Pakistan had continued to seek peace and stability in the region.

He recalled that Pakistan’s proposal for comprehensive strategic stability, which envisaged conflict resolution, nuclear and missile restraint and conventional balance, could become the bedrock of peace and stability in the region.

He, however, emphasised on pursuing the Pakistani proposal with sincerity.

Mr Chaudhry mentioned several steps taken by Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state, including IAEA safeguards for civilian nuclear facilities, measures for nuclear safety and security, establishment of a robust command and control system, an effective export control regime, and engagement with international arrangements and processes.

“Our strong credentials as a nuclear state qualify us for being mainstreamed in the global nuclear order. The global non-proliferation regime also stands to gain from our membership,” the foreign secretary underscored with regard to its case for mainstreaming.

Pakistan, he said, needed to be granted the NSG membership in accordance with a non-discriminatory, uniform and criteria-based approach.

He said that this approach was the surest way to peace and stability in the region instead of strategic and commercial considerations or political expediency.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016