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ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri Thursday said Pakistan would not be intimidated by the latest test-firing of Agni missile by India.
In a statement to the PTV, the minister said Pakistan did not lag behind any other country in terms of defence capability.
Pakistan did not want to indulge in arms race with any other country, he said. He, however, added that whenever it felt necessary, all possible steps would be taken for defence of the country.
SHEIKH RASHID: Pakistan on Thursday accused India of “war-mongering” in its test-launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, one day after Pakistan’s army took formal possession of a similar missile.
India’s testing of a variant of its Agni missile demonstrates the “war-mongering mindset” of its leadership, said Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
“Pakistan is above such war-mongering psyche. At the same time we are not oblivious to our defence requirements,” Mr Ahmed said.
The foreign ministry said the test was “not unexpected as India’s nuclear and missile ambitions were well known.”
Asked whether Pakistan would respond to its arch-rival’s test with one of its own, spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan replied: “Pakistan conducts tests when our technical requirements so demand.”—Agencies
Mr Ahmed said owing to the threatening tone of Indian government Ghauri missile was formally handed over to Pakistan army, which was also in the best interest of the country’s security, Our Reporter adds from Rawalpindi.
Mr Ahmed said this while talking to mediamen soon after inaugurating a water supply system by the project management unit (PMU) of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), near Shamsabad.
He said India was trying yet another attempt to pressurise Pakistan adding the later had the power to retaliate to any Indian aggression with full might and accuracy.
Mr Ahmed said Pakistan was aware of the fact that all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir must be solved through dialogue, adding, but the later was not fulfilling her responsibilities and was dreaming of establishing her hegemony in the region.
Replying to a question the minister described the alleged involvement of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan in transferring nuclear technology to some other states as baseless adding the country’s nuclear weapons and programme were in safe hands.
About Pakistan’s position in the possible US attack on Iraq, the minister added his country would never back the attempt or allow its territory to be used in any military action against Iraq, but would also safeguard its national interests and its friendly relations with the outer world.
About the Pakistani representative in the UN, Muneer Akram and his reported violence against a woman friend, the minister added it was not such a big issue, but the Western media was exploiting that. Whenever, the Western media had found any opportunity it had exploited that against the interest of Pakistan.
