ISLAMABAD Reacting to the launch of a nuclear submarine by India, Pakistan vowed on Monday to take all measures for maintaining strategic balance in the region.

'Without entering into an arms race with India, Pakistan will take all appropriate steps to safeguard its security and maintain strategic balance in South Asia,' Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said in a statement.

Pakistan views the induction of nuclear submarine 'INS Arihant' as a destabilising factor for the regional strategic balance and a threat to peace and security of South Asia.

Mr Basit said 'Continued induction of new lethal weapon systems by India is detrimental to regional peace and stability.'

Islamabad considers that maintenance of strategic balance is essential for peace and security in South Asia.

Nuclear arms race between the two countries started in 1974 when India detonated a nuclear device and reached its climax in 1998 when in response to nuclear tests by the Vajpayee government, Pakistan was compelled to test its nuclear weapons.