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ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on Sunday said that Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear power "smashed India's dreams".
Aziz was addressing a gathering of the Nazaria Pakistan Council where he also said that Pakistan's enemies would not succeed in sabotaging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
"Pakistan's adversaries have started their conspiracies to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, but make it clear that enemies' nefarious designs will never succeed."
Read more: India should refrain from interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs: FO
He also said India's desire for regional hegemony would not be allowed, and stated that economic prosperity and self-reliance are imperative to a strong defence.
The adviser said Pakistan ─ and the entire region's future ─ was dependent on the completion of the CPEC.
Talking about the war on terrorism, Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has to fight a war against evil ideologies, including extremism and terrorism, which are harming the country.
Aziz's assertions follow statements by the Pakistan Army that Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is involved in terrorism in Pakistan.
A May 5 conference chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at General Headquarters "took serious notice of RAW’s involvement in whipping up terrorism in Pakistan," according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations.
Read more: RAW instigating terrorism, says army
RAW has quite often been blamed by law-enforcement agencies for being involved in subversive activities in Pakistan, but it’s unusual for a corps commanders’ conference to directly point fingers at the hostile intelligence outfit.
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the Indian intelligence agency RAW is involved in various terrorist activities across Pakistan, adding that the matter had been taken up "a number of times" at the highest level with India through diplomatic channels.
Read more: RAW involved in terrorist activities across Pakistan: foreign secretary
The government in January decided to take a tougher approach towards India and forcefully raise its concerns over alleged Indian involvement in acts of terrorism in Pakistan.
Successive governments in Pakistan always pointed to the Indian hand in terrorism, more particularly in Balochistan and tribal areas, but did not disclose specific information about the alleged role. That, a senior national security official said, would not be the case any more.
Read more: India helping terrorists in Pakistan: Khawaja Asif
Foreign secretary leaves for Washington
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry left Islamabad for Washington to lead a highlevel Pakistani delegation at a Pak-US strategic dialogue commencing from 2 June in the United States' capital, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah told DawnNews.
The third round of strategic dialogue will review progress made in various areas of cooperation including arms control, international security, defence, science and technology, counter-terrorism, education and energy.
Foreign Office sources said the foreign secretary received important directives from political leadership before his departure to the US, where he will also speak to senior US officials about Indian spy agency RAW's alleged involvement in terrorism in Pakistan.
Chaudhry will also meet high ranking officials at the US State Department and brief them about the security situation in the region, including Afghanistan and Pakistan's achievement in the war against terrorism.
Diplomatic sources said both sides are slated to discuss possible dates for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to the US which is expected to occur after the approval of the federal budget of Pakistan.
US President Barack Obama has already extended an invitation to Nawaz Sharif through diplomatic channels to visit Washington this year.
Read more: US, Pakistan to hold nuclear, strategic talks next week
