ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has declared that the country is committed to maintaining a credible defence at all costs. Speaking at the national flag hoisting ceremony marking the Independence Day here on Monday, he said the defence was in safe and strong hands and the armed forces were fully capable of defending the country.

The prime minister said Pakistan was a peaceful country with no aggressive designs against anyone. “But we are not oblivious to our defence needs, as we know that weakness invites aggression.”

He said Pakistan was a nuclear power of 160 million people and its every child knew how to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

The prime minister said Pakistan was pursuing the path of indigenisation for a strong defence and was meeting its needs through local means.

He said the country’s missile and space programme was advancing, the locally assembled Agosta submarine had been handed over to the navy and manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder aircraft was in the final stages. “These are great achievements and the nation is proud of its engineers.”

He said Pakistan has initiated talks with India with all sincerity as it believed that lasting peace in the region could only be achieved with the resolution of Kashmir and other outstanding disputes.

He stressed that Kashmiris were an important party to the dispute and their wishes could not be overlooked.

He reiterated Pakistan’s unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris and said lasting peace could only be achieved with the resolution of the core dispute of Kashmir.