MIANWALI: In what appears to be a move to put at rest speculation rife in the country in the wake of $1.5 billion given by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared on Thursday that Pakistan was neither sending its troops to any country for taking part in operations nor had any country made such a request.

Talking to journalists after a ceremony held to name the Mianwali Airbase after the 1965 war hero M.M. Alam, Mr Sharif said Pakistan was against arms race in the region, but it could not neglect its defence.

“Being peaceful does not mean giving up our independence. We have to defend our political, economic and cultural sovereignty,” he said.

Since the Saudi dignitaries’ visit to Pakistan a few weeks ago, rumour mills have been working overtime that Pakistan may have agreed to provide arms as well as soldiers to help Syrian rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al Assad’s regime.

However, Prime Minister Sharif said that recent visits by Arab leaders were in Pakistan’s interest and must not be linked to such assumptions. More such visits were expected, he added.

The APP quoted him as saying that the visits by leaders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait bore testimony to their friendship.

He described the visit by King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain as fruitful and productive.

The prime minister said the country was facing “serious challenges” and it was high time to take “tough decisions”. Pakistan, he added, could not afford to waste more time and steps were being taken to put it on the path to development.

Pakistan did not harbour aggressive designs against any country. “Our government is clear on this issue. A strong Pakistan with strong armed forces guarantees regional peace,” Mr Sharif said.

He said every step would be taken to strengthen the country’s armed forces, including its air force and navy.

He mentioned a Quranic verse which stresses that horses be kept ready for taking on the enemy and said its connotation in today’s world is to equip the armed forces with best weaponry and advanced professional training.

Mr Sharif recalled the bravery of Air Commodore Mohammad Mehmood Alam and expressed confidence that other personnel of the PAF would follow in his footsteps.

He announced renaming the PAF Mianwali Airbase as PAF M.M. Alam Airbase to honour the hero on his first death anniversary.

M.M. Alam is known for downing five Indian fighter aircraft in less than one minute in the 1965 war.

On his arrival at the base, the prime minister was received by Air Chief

Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Northern Air Commander Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik and Mianwali Base Commander Air Commodore Mohammad Zaheer Mirza.

The premier was accompanied by Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid.

The ceremony was followed by a fly march past in which F-16, JF-17

Thunder, F-7 and other aircraft participated.

The prime minister also unveiled a commemorative stamp issued by Pakistan Post bearing the photo of M.M. Alam.