ISLAMABAD, July 23: The National Command Authority (NCA) on Saturday expressed ‘serious concern’ over the Indo-US nuclear and defence framework agreement and decided to take ‘appropriate measures’ to ensure the defence of the country.

Sources told Dawn that a meeting of the authority presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf was of the view that Pakistan should take up the issue of the quantum jump in Indo-US defence cooperation with the Bush administration and at the same time ensure continued credible defence.

The NCA took note of the Indo-US framework and decided on appropriate measures.

The president told the meeting, held at the strategic plans division in Rawalpindi, that Pakistan was fully alive to developments taking place in its region and it would take all necessary safeguards to ensure that its deterrence capability was maintained.

The country’s nuclear deterrence, he said, was fully operational and continued to consolidate and strengthen with time.

He said it was not Pakistan’s policy to engage in an arms race but it would not close its eyes to induction of advanced weaponry in its neighbourhood. Pakistan stood for peace and harmony, which were essential for the promotion of the government’s policy of economic growth and development, the president said but added that all necessary defensive measures would be taken.

No one had the right to speculate about the effectiveness and reliability of the country’s command and control structures, which predated those in its neighbourhood and were far more efficient, scientific and transparent, he said.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz informed the meeting that the country’s rapid economic growth would generate large energy requirements and his government had identified nuclear energy as one of the attractive alternative sources.