KARACHI, Nov 20: President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan's defence strategy is based on `defensive deterrence’, both in conventional and unconventional spheres.

“We want to use our arms for peace only, for defensive deterrence,” President Musharraf said at the inauguration of fourth International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2006 here on Monday.

He said Pakistan's defence strategy emanated from its belief that peace could only be achieved through strength and not weakness.

The president said the greatest threat to any progress were the dangers from extremism and terrorism, not only for Pakistan but also for the entire world.

He said the only way forward was that of enlightened moderation, by rejecting extremism and terrorism while opting for socio-economic development for the sake of humanity.

“Pakistan is at the forefront in fighting extremism and terrorism and is fighting it militarily, politically, administratively and in the form of development activity,” Gen Musharraf said.

He expressed determination that the country would succeed in the fight and would sustain its economic upsurge.

He said that in the past, the country quantified its requirements and weaponry for the army, navy and the air force to deter any aggression in the conventional areas.

However, he said: “When the threat grew unconventional we had to rectify the imbalance and, therefore, we also went unconventional.”

President Musharraf said: “Our strategy on defensive deterrence, both in conventional and unconventional fields, is in place, in strength, and is growing from strength to strength every year.”

The president said Pakistan had learnt from its experiences to go for indigenous development of its defence products and to diversify markets for purchases.

He said Pakistan wanted to move ahead through joint ventures and to buy and sell products internationally, he said.—APP