LAHORE, Oct 19: Pakistan has achieved nuclear security and is capable of manufacturing missiles of every capability, range and quality, says Dr Samar Mubarak Mand, chief of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

Addressing a symposium on “defence requirements of Pakistan”, arranged by the Old Ravians Union, at the Govt College here on Monday, he said though no country had ever used a nuclear bomb since 1945 one could not belittle its importance as far as its deterrence utility was concerned.

He told his audience that the PAEC had developed ‘smart bombs’ that could off set any advantage held by the adversary.

He took the occasion to ask the younger generation to join nuclear field so that the country kept getting new scientists.

Eminent scholar and academician Prof Hassan Askari Rizvi said Pakistan should review its defence needs in the changed scenario.

“In order to ensure impregnable defence, it must take a holistic view of its security requirements in the changed world scenario. Hitherto, its one policy tended to conflict with others; the preference for economic revival has clashed with the Afghan and Kashmir policy.

“It also must clarify what kind of policy it wants to pursue; weather it wants to be a democratic or an Islamic state. It cannot have it both ways. Once goals become clear, policy formulation becomes easy,” he said.

Journalist Khaled Ahmed said that Pakistan must realize that status quo had been frozen in the sub-continent after the nuclear blasts. Any attempt by Pakistan to change it would boomerang with huge financial and diplomatic cost. “If Pakistan wants to pursue anti-status quo policy in the region, it would only compromise chances of economic and diplomatic revival.”

According to him, Pakistan should reconsider its defence needs in pragmatic and self-preservation terms rather than ideological ones. “Basing foreign policy on ideological moorings have led the country towards isolation.”

He praised the government for taking a ‘pragmatic’ decision after Sept 11 and serving the national rather than ideological interest, he said.

Former federal minister Aitzaz Ahsan emphasized that weapons, including nuclear, did not strengthen any country’s defence. “It is democracy and participatory society that ensures defence. Unless Pakistan does something to strengthen internal coherence, its defence will always be vulnerable.”