Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday said Pakistan’s nuclear programme aims at maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the country has no desire to engage in nuclear arms race.To a question about a recently released report about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said as a nuclear state, Pakistan’s policy is characterised by the utmost restraint and responsibility.

“We strictly abide by the concept of credible minimum deterrence,” he said in a statement.The spokesman also rejected the report’s assertion that Pakistan had the fastest growing nuclear arsenal as utterly baseless.

“Such reports have the effect of diverting attention from the exponential increase in India’s fissile material stockpiles as a result of nuclear deals with a growing number of NSG countries and its destabilizing consequences for the region.” Pakistan has put forward several initiatives to promote conventional and strategic stability in South Asia, including the proposed Strategic Restraint Regime, but regrettably India has failed to respond positively, he said.

Pakistan remains committed to the global objectives of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, the spokesman added.

“Such reports have the effect of diverting attention from the exponential increase in India’s fissile material stockpiles,” added the spokesperson.He also added that India’s stockpiles have grown as a result of deals with Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) countries which will have destabilising consequences for the region.