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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday expressed serious concern over Indian tests of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, saying it would “disturb strategic balance in south Asia”.
Speaking at a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said India should have informed Pakistan in advance about the test.
The spokesman dismissed concerns about ‘threats’ to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, saying that Pakistan enjoys safety of its weapons.
In March, India tested a nuclear capable long range submarine missile in the Indian Ocean.
This has raised concerns over the nuclear balance in the region, and more specifically the nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean.
The Foreign Office has previously said that Pakistan is ready to work with India to prevent an arms race in the region.
In February, the National Command Authority, the country’s top decision-making body on nuclear issues, had renewed the proposal for Strategic Restraint Regime, which has been on the table since Oct 1998.
India has remained opposed to the proposal and avoided negotiations on the matter.
Afghan chief executive’s trip postponed
The spokesman confirmed that chief executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah has postponed his trip to Pakistan scheduled on May 2.
Abdullah Abdullah announced he was postponing his trip after “initial evidence” of the suicide attack in central Kabul on Tuesday which claimed 30 lives.
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Comments (37) Closed
Apr 21, 2016 05:18pm
I don't think long range nuclear capable subamarine based ballistic missile are Pakistan oriented.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:21pm
Firstly India and Pakistan are not in the same league so there is no question in strategic balance between the two.
Secondly SLBMs are a part of Indian Deterrent vis a vis China and Pakistan has nothing to fear from those.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:24pm
@Prashantjain How come. Pakistan has a long sea line. It got two big sea ports.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:42pm
The only country from where we face existential threat is india. Kulbhushan is the most recent and fresh evidence of the same. We cannot let our guard down. InshaAllah Pakistan will exercise its right and achieve minimal deterrence against any threat from the enemy. Long Live Pak
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Apr 21, 2016 05:43pm
@soumik pyne Same league? ofcourse not. Pakistan is much much bigger nuke power then India. Secondly India must inform Pakistan in advance about the test of ballistic missiles, it is part of the bilateral agreement. If India has now broken his bilateral commitment, Pakistan in future will do what it deem best.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:47pm
India has a long coast line to protect even on East.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:50pm
Why are we whining about strategic imbalance, whining does not solve issue, greater military alignment with China would change the balance in our favour.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:51pm
India's focus is on China. The submarine missiles are an expensive second launch capability. All countries would like to have them but it is an expensive ticket. Better for the neighborhood including China to come up with a restraint regime and then it would be possible to move forward and focus resources on lifting our people out of poverty.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:54pm
India should double or triple its defense budget.
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Apr 21, 2016 05:58pm
Abdullah Abdullah is nothing more than a true representative of India's interest
in Afghanistan . Pakistan should avoid inviting him as he will never try to bring
Pakistan - Afghanistan relationship closure .
Syed Naseem Ahmed
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Apr 21, 2016 06:03pm
@Zak Restraint ? You must be dreaming , As long as countries have resources they will try for the ultimate weapon, so we have no option but to do likewise.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:05pm
Pakistan saying it would “disturb strategic balance in south Asia”.
friends it is already disturbed long time back,
now we indians are catching china,
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Apr 21, 2016 06:09pm
Pakistan needs to get our own to keep the balance.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:13pm
@bharat : Don't worry brother, we are on the right way. Our prime minister is doing his best for the welfare of India.Today all countries are eager to make trade with India. Now, we're increasing our gdp as well as per capita. Be happy and see the victory of India.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:12pm
any country who uses nuclear weapon will be hitting axe on own foot..crippled economy and maybe retaliatory nuclear attack...if u want to doom your country then go ahead n press the button..even russia or usa wont send nuclear missile to each other..they know..the consequences...especially when you are neighbours...u can never attack neighbour n live peacefully..
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Apr 21, 2016 06:22pm
US should stop arming us here in India till India give equal rights to Sikhs and so called lower caste Hindus.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:27pm
Its impossible to achieve prosperity unless you have peace and friendship with immediate neighbors. For India, the couple northern states are focussed in rivalry with Pakistan, but entire South India is free to focus on economic and technology progress. For Pakistan , all borders are unfortunately hot now. Wishing that peace and calm first enters the minds and then it will show in policies.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:30pm
Yeah, we know.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:35pm
@Zak You now recognize the problem that India has. It is China.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:39pm
India is not in arm race with Pakistan now. India is doing it as to limit china in indian ocean reason. India is also considering patrolling of south china sea along with US
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Apr 21, 2016 06:39pm
There is China to balance India Pakistan should not unnecessary worry.
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Apr 21, 2016 06:41pm
All nuclear tests should be announced. Period. But we can not stop India from conducting tests, that's their prerogative.
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Apr 21, 2016 07:01pm
India has declared that it would not be the first to use a Nuclear weapon against any enemy but Pakistan has not committed to "no first use policy". It's clear India is using it for defence and not offence.
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Apr 21, 2016 07:03pm
@Riaz Murtaza Sea line has nothing to do with this. No need for a ballistic missile to hit at Pakistan. It is not Pakistan centric and surely keeping in view China.
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Apr 21, 2016 07:09pm
@Ravi besides being among the richest communities in india and having high ranking jobs in every field, what equal rights are the sikhs missing?
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Apr 21, 2016 07:28pm
@Ravi : India has developed this missile not with the help of USA.
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Apr 21, 2016 07:33pm
what strategic balance .by 2020 Indian defense budget will be 100 billion dollar
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Apr 21, 2016 07:38pm
Can you afford the arm- race with India with so much of disparity in defence budget of both countries? India, the 3rd largest economy after China & US, is far ahead of you in all terms & don't expect her to be sitting next to you. Instead please remained focus with your own economy for the world to respect you.
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Apr 21, 2016 07:48pm
@bharat yes this should be spirit. Keep on brother till fac
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Apr 21, 2016 08:11pm
India's development of nuclear missiles and systems are solely to counter China which has a bigger inventory of such weapons systems. Pakistan is not a security threat to India.
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Apr 21, 2016 08:36pm
Pakistan must must must develop nuclear submarines with MIRV tipped ICBMs as soon as possible
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Apr 21, 2016 08:42pm
@Sachin I beg to disagree here. What you are trying to state is only few North Indian states are engaged militarily to fight Pakistan and that South Indian states are busy in economic development. Military engagement and military strategic planning is happening at national level and thus entire India is involved not just north indian states. Development on the other hand is happening at both the National level as well as individual state level. To some extent the development in IT and other sectors is more in Western India and Southern part of India but overall development is also happening simultaneously in all states . INDIA IS ONE MY FRIEND WHEN IT COMES TO MILITARY. Don't forget that States get major revenue share from the Taxes collected by the Centre . With the new GST bill; the state taxes will be marginal.
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Apr 21, 2016 10:10pm
Strategic Restraint Regime needs to be planned between India and China and not between India and Pakistan. The real competition of arm race in the region is between India and China. Let's keep Kashmir at the back for a while, no serious issue shall remain between India and Pakistan. So, why are we spending such a senseless expenditure on defense?
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Apr 22, 2016 02:52am
You don't have to worry this is for your good friend
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Apr 22, 2016 09:43am
India and Pakistan being neighboring countries should focus on basic problems with their people. they always try to bring prosperity in the countries rather than nuclear race.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:46am
India has right to develop its defense plan - but so is Pakistan. When Pakistan does the same kind of test - the whole world cry foul -
lets not waste more energy into this waste and spend on our own people and for their betterment - but keeping minimum deterrence
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Apr 22, 2016 10:14am
Pakistan need to direct its resources for development of its people
Education, health, housing and economy.
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