ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Pakistan on Tuesday hit back at India on the nuclear proliferation issue saying it was the latter that had started it in the region.

Reacting sharply to Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran’s Monday’s statement calling upon the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to further investigate Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan’s role in nuclear proliferation, Foreign Office spokesperson asserted: “As regards South Asia, everyone knows which country started nuclear proliferation in the region. It was not Pakistan. India abused its civilian programme to divert technology for military purposes and exploded a nuclear device in 1974.

The Spokesperson added: “Again India was the first to test in 1998. Pakistan however, was obliged to respond to the developments in our region to maintain a credible nuclear deterrence and security balance in the interest of peace in the region.”

The spokesperson maintained that Pakistan had fully cooperated with the IAEA and had conducted thorough investigations with regard to illicit transfer of technology to Iran. “We fully shared the findings with the International Atomic Energy Agency and all concerned.”

Pakistan has taken forceful action to dismantle the international illicit nuclear network, the spokesperson said, adding that it no longer existed in Pakistan.

The IAEA has acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s cooperation. This chapter is closed.

Underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, the spokesperson pointed out: “We are part of international efforts aimed at non-proliferation. We have introduced comprehensive export control legislation and enforced strong export controls.”