ISLAMABAD, July 24: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continuing the peace process with India despite disappointing statements by Indian leadership.

Speaking at a press conference on his return from Kabul, he said Pakistan hoped that the statements by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wouldn’t affect the peace process.

The foreign minister said the process was irreversible and it needed to be strengthened rather than being weakened by damaging statements.

He said the individual acts referred to by the Indian prime minister should not affect the peace process.

He reiterated the government’s stance that the country‘s nuclear programme was defensive and based on maintaining minimum credible deterrence.

He said that neither was Pakistan the first in the region to introduce nuclear weapons nor did it misuse civilian nuclear facilities to develop weapons. He said Pakistan was compelled to conduct nuclear tests after India did so.

Pakistan opted for the program only after threats to its security, he said.

Mr Kasuri asserted the nuclear program was peaceful and under strong command and control systems and export control.

About the ongoing crackdown in the country, he said Pakistan was committed to the war against terrorism and its security agencies followed leads provided by other countries, including the United Kingdom.

He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s visit to the United States had been postponed on Pakistan’s request purely because of domestic compulsions, including the train accident and floods.

He said the dates for US President George Bush’s visit to Pakistan had not been finalized yet.

He termed Mr Aziz’s visit to Kabul successful and said misunderstandings had been removed as both the countries agreed to enhance cooperation and improve people-to-people contact.

He said work on rail link between Chaman and Spin Boldak would be started shortly.

APP adds: Mr Kasuri said Pakistan had taken note of the recent agreement between India and the United States on nuclear cooperation. He said Pakistan never wanted to enter an arms race.

Answering a question about Indian apprehensions on the proposed gas pipeline, he said a memorandum of understanding had been signed for supply of gas from Iran and Pakistan would follow it. He said India was welcome to join the project.