NEW DELHI, July 7: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that India did not wish to engage in an arms race with any one and it would continue to maintain highest standards of non-proliferation controls.

Speaking at an awards giving function of the Defence Research and Development Organization here, the Indian prime minister said New Delhi sought a neighbourhood of peace and prosperity as a vital pillar of its national security.

“As a possessor of advanced technologies, we will continue to maintain the highest standards of non-proliferation controls,” he said.

Mr Singh said India stood for peace and for the peaceful resolution of all problems among states. India’s national goal was to foster an external and internal environment of peace and stability, which would “allow us adequate space to concentrate on the multiple economic and social challenges facing our people,” he said.

He said India was a responsible member of the international community and it had a vital stake in the evolution of a stable and rule-based international system.

But, he said, “the reality is that we live in a world of unequal power relations. We live in an uncertain international security environment. We are therefore obliged to create adequate defence preparedness to manage any potential challenge to our security and vital national interests.”

Apparently referring to a problem India is facing regarding delays in the delivery of defence equipment to armed forces, Mr Singh asked the scientists to avoid long gestation periods in the development of weapon systems.

“Delays at the development stage run the risk of obsolescence of the weapon systems by the time they are ready for serial production. Causing delays at the stage of production means that our armed forces are deprived of timely deliveries, which often compels the government to look for external procurement to fill emerging gaps in our inventories,” he said.—APP