Additional Secretary (United Nations and Economic Cooperation) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tasneem Aslam on Tuesday said that India is developing atomic submarines, Radio Pakistan reported.

Addressing a seminar in Islamabad, Aslam claimed that India is building its atomic stockpile 'day by day'.

"In these circumstances, Pakistan has no option but to keep itself ready for defence," she said, adding that Pakistan is maintaining minimum deterrence.

She also said the Indian leadership's "irresponsible statements" pose a threat to regional peace.

The additional secretary warned that the regional balance of power would be disrupted if India is granted membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

She alleged that although India accuses Pakistan of terrorism by means of non-state elements, the Indian government has been found involved in terror activities.

The additional secretary claimed Pakistan has evidence that India's Research and Analysis Wing is responsible for carrying out terror activities in Pakistan.

Speaking about the Heart of Asia conference held in Amritsar earlier this month, Aslam claimed India had placed diplomatic hurdles in the way of Sartaj Aziz, special adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs.

"But despite India's attempt to sabotage Pakistan in the conference, we were able to reassure Afghanistan about building peace in the region," she said.

"It was because of Pakistan's presence that India was unable to hijack the conference," Aslam claimed.

Aslam's statements come just a day after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Pakistan would "soon be in 10 pieces" if cross-border terrorism did not come to an end.

Read more: Rajnath Singh warns Pakistan of 1971-like consequences

Tensions between Pakistan and India have been running high following an alleged 'surgical strike', unrest in Kashmir and the Uri army base attack in September.

Since then there have been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing in Kashmir, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries including of civilians.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack in Sept in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. Hours after the attack occurred, Rajnath Singh termed Pakistan a 'terrorist state' and accused Pakistan of involvement.

The Uri attack occurred days before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was set to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding Indian human rights violations in held Kashmir.

Following the attack, India claimed it had conducted a cross-border 'surgical strike' against 'launch pads of terror' in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — a claim Pakistan has strongly rejected.

Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world's attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.

Pakistan and India have, most recently, locked horns over Kashmir since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July.

Opinion

Editorial

Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...
Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...