ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday warned that India’s decision to change its nuclear arms usage policy was ‘highly irresponsible and dangerous’ and that it will not help the cause of promoting strategic restraint and stability in a nuclearised South Asia.
“Pakistan has long maintained that the ambiguous no-first-use declaration is not verifiable and hence nothing more than an empty political statement,” FO Spokesman NafeesZakaria told a weekly press briefing.
The spokesman said that such an ambiguous declaration cannot substitute for verifiable arms control and restraint measures. “In taking appropriate security measures, Pakistan has to consider capabilities and not intentions which can change anytime,” the spokesman added.
Recent reports suggested India may be considering revisiting its ‘no-first-strike’ policy, allowing its nuclear establishment to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike against Pakistan in the event of a war.
To a question about US and Iranian offers to mediate between Pakistan and India over Kashmir issue, the spokesman said that Pakistan has always welcomed offers of mediation made by various countries to resolve the outstanding issue of Kashmir. However, he maintained that India as usual reacted negatively to the US offer of mediation. “India wants to speak of terrorism! We also insist on speaking of terrorism, which forms one of the elements of the comprehensive dialogue process. We need to address the Indian sponsored terrorism in Pakistan. KulbhushanYadav and many other examples are irrefutable proof of Indian involvement in Pakistan,” he said. The spokesman added that India tries to hide its atrocities in Held Kashmir and is afraid of being exposed on account of crimes against humanity committed by its forces in the valley. “India will eventually realize that the only solution to the Kashmir dispute is the realization of the right to self-determination of Kashmiris through a fair and free plebiscite in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions.”
To a question about Saudi-led now 41-nation Islamic alliance to fight terrorism, the spokesman said that the alliance is aimed at combating terrorism by promoting solidarity and cooperation among the Muslim countries. “It is neither for nor against any country. The TORs of alliance are yet to be developed. However, Pakistan’s endeavour would be that alliance serves to bring Muslim countries together in fight against terrorism,” he said.
To a question about Afghan government not extending visas to Pakistanis living or working in Afghanistan, the spokesman said that Pakistan has already conveyed its concerns to the Afghan Embassy as well as Afghan authorities in Kabul. “Pakistan attaches importance to facilitating movement of people from both sides.”
To a question about fencing on Afghan border, the spokesman said that all the work related to the border management is being done on our side of the border to tackle terrorists coming from across the border. “There have been official contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan recently, which were useful. There is a growing understanding between both the countries to work together to tackle the common threat of terrorism,” he said.
To a question about Pakistan, China and Russia all set to become part of an alliance aiming to seek political solution of Afghanistan, the spokesman said Pakistan’s foreign policy is aimed at maintaining peaceful neighborhood and friendly relations with all countries based on common interests. “We believe there is a need for countries to work together for lasting peace and preventing any proxy war in Afghanistan. Given the international attention converging on Asia Pacific region, particularly in the context of its huge economic and human resource potential, and that of connectivity for trade and energy, bilateral relations of Pakistan with a number of countries have registered positive trajectory including with Russia, Central Asia, European states and other countries,” he said.
On relations with the US, the spokesman said Islamabad looks forward to working closely with Washington and enhance the existing bilateral relations. “We have longstanding and diverse relationship, spanning over a large number of areas of cooperation. I think we should not see this longstanding and diverse relationship through the prism of one or two issues,’ he maintained.
