ISLAMABAD: India's heavy military spending and acquisition of weapons threatens Pakistan and its efforts for regional peace, said National Security Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua on Tuesday.
Speaking at a seminar titled 'Pakistan's Role in Promoting Global Peace and Security' in the capital, Janjua said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country but its efforts to promote regional peace are hindered by Indian desire to acquire military and strategic weapons.
The NSA said the world has never acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terror, despite the trying circumstances the country has faced.
"Did Pakistan ask the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan? Pakistan paid a heavy price in the war against the Soviets, but its role has never been acknowledged."
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He was of the view that the two neighbouring countries are nuclear armed and cannot live in an environment of hostility towards each other, especially when both are fighting terror on their soil.
"Western powers desire better relations with India due to a shared anti-China policy despite the fact that a peaceful region and world is in Chinese interest and China has no ill will towards any of these countries," said the former military man.
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Janjua’s statement coincided with the release of an annual report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), which listed the 15 highest spending nations on military. India featured number six on the list, up a rank from its position of the previous year.
Data revealed by Sipri puts Pakistan’s military expenditure in 2015 at $9.5 billion, higher than the previous year’s $8.7 billion.
India's military spending in 2015 however, came in at $51.3 billion, an increase of 0.4 per cent over the previous year.
Janjua went on to add that the increase in India’s weapons and nuclear arms poses a great danger to Pakistan’s security.
"Those who look for solutions through might will have to sit on the seats of dialogue to talk about peace and find real solutions. World powers might be cooperating with India on defence and nuclear weapons, but their discriminatory attitude against Pakistan must stop."
"It’s about time that all countries stop pointing fingers at each other, and come together to work for peace."
