ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the latest Indian test of submarine capable of firing nuclear ballistic missiles, terming it an act to impact the delicate strategic balance of the region.
Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria in his weekly press briefing said the launch of India’s nuclear submarine was a ‘serious development’ and had resulted in nuclearisation of Indian Ocean.
The spokesman termed it a ‘worrisome development’ for the region and the international community. He pointed that the submarine launched ballistic missile test was not notified to Pakistan. “Any test of missiles, whether launched on the surface or submerged platform, can be mistaken by other country as an offensive missile,” he said.
The spokesman said Pakistan believed that in line with the agreement on the pre-notification of test launch of ballistic missiles, the test should had been notified to Pakistan. On Pakistan’s efforts at diplomatic front following the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadev, the spokesman said Pakistan continued to highlight the foreign hand involved in subversive activities and financing of terrorism. He said a number of foreign representative based in Islamabad had also been briefed on the issue. He recalled that Pakistan had presented dossiers on Indian involvement to the United Nations and the United States, and emphasized that the arrest of Yadev had strengthened Pakistan’s stance.
On India’s National Investigative Agency stating that Lt Col Purohit was not an accused in the Samjhauta Express tragedy, the spokesman said mastermind Swami Aseemanand in a public confession had named Lt Col Purohit and eight other officials behind the incident. He said Pakistan’s request of sharing details of the investigation of Samjhauta Express rested with the Indian government.
The spokesman confirmed that the visit of Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah had been postponed. He said the new dates for the visit earlier scheduled for May 2-3, would be communicated by the Afghan government later.
He condemned the recent terrorist attack in Kabul and prayed for the departed souls.
He said Pakistan was also fighting terrorism and mentioned that the military operation Zarb-e-Azb was yielding positive results.
The spokesman said the decision for holding on the next meeting of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) was in the process and added that all four members including Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States, were committed for positive solution to peace in Afghanistan.
About media reports citing shifting of the summit of the Ministerial Standing Committee on Science and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) from Islamabad to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana as a ‘diplomatic blow’ to Pakistan, he said the holding of summit in rotation was a routine matter.