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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office expressed concern on Friday over India expanding its conventional military capabilities and warned that its actions could affect the region’s strategic balance.
“The steep rise in India’s defence budget and its massive arms build-up through acquisition of modern weaponry is a matter of concern,” Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at the weekly briefing.
India’s current defence budget is $40.4 billion and it is one of the biggest arms importers in the world. The increasing gap in the military capability compels Pakistan to increase its reliance on nuclear deterrence.
“The growing conventional asymmetry undermines regional stability and also negatively impacts the balance of strategic deterrence,” Mr Khalilullah said.
Pakistan, he added, remained fully cognizant of evolving security dynamics in South Asia and, while adhering to the policy of avoiding an arms race, would take all measures to safeguard its national security.
The spokesman expressed the hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend the groundbreaking of the planned North-South gas pipeline from Lahore to Karachi, which is to be constructed with the help of Russia.
“We will welcome the visit of the Russian president to Pakistan. The groundbreaking ceremony of the gas pipeline will be a good occasion for the visit,” he said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had on the occasion of signing of the inter-governmental agreement for the construction of the gas pipeline had expressed his intention of inviting President Putin to the groundbreaking ceremony of the project likely to be held in December.
“We want to enhance relations with Russia in all fields of mutual interest,” Mr Khalilullah said.
Responding to a question about Iran’s offer of cooperation against Daesh, he said Pakistan was convinced that an international cooperative approach was required to deal with the menace.
“We support coordinated action by countries concerned in their own territory to deal with terrorism. We have extended this kind of cooperation to Afghanistan. We are cognizant of the threat posed by Daesh,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2015
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