ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Pakistan will never indulge in an arms race and it could not spare the amount of $9 billion for defence purchases.

The ministry of defence, in an apparent response to recent media reports suggesting that Pakistan was planning to buy defence systems and equipment worth $9 billion, said in a statement issued here Thursday that $9 billion was a huge sum of money which a country like Pakistan facing multiple issues could not set aside for only defence purchases.

The ministry of defence stated that it would buy only those items which were necessary to maintain strategic balance in the region.

The statement said that Pakistan being a responsible country would never indulge in an arms race in the region. Pakistan, he said, would discuss, among other things, acquisition of arms and equipment with United States in the forthcom-ing meeting of the Defence Consultative Group, which would take place in Washington this month.

“But the purchase will be in accordance with our needs and resources,” the spokesman added.