Pakistan links lowering nuke reliance to Indian threat

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has tagged lowering the reliance on its nuclear arsenal to the threat perception from India.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry reacted to the President Obama’s urge to contain nuclear weapons saying that Pakistan had to defend itself against Indian aggression and resultantly it relied on its defensive measures.

“Our reliance on nuclear arsenal is basically because of the threats from India. If threat level is lowered, reliance on nuclear arsenal will decrease as well,” he told The News here on Sunday.

Aizaz said that Pakistan agreed to the US suggestion but “what’s important is that the underlined causes or conflicts are resolved first.”

He said Pakistan had already proposed to India to resolve the outstanding conflicts, bring conventional balance and apply nuclear middle restraints.

“An overall comprehensive strategic restraint can ensure long lasting peace,” he insisted adding that Pakistan had told the US already that an even-handed, non-discriminatory, level-playing field will ensure strategic stability in the region.

Answering a question, he said that the US signed a civil nuclear deal with India in 2008 which let India increase its nuclear arms exponentially.

“We feel that it destabilised the region. We would like the US to play its role and adopt a non-discriminatory policy in South Asia,” he said.

Pakistan participated in the Nuclear Security Summit and asked for full integration in the multilateral export control regime.

The foreign secretary backed the proposal arguing that Pakistan is a responsible state and should be included in the international non-proliferation order. “Our joining the group is way better than staying out,” he said.

Three big groups like Nuclear Suppliers Group, MTCR, the Australia Group keep a checklist and “our national list matches with theirs in terms of security constraints. We keep on updating the list. We did that in 2011 and just now in 2015 again,” he said.

He further said that Pakistan had repeatedly told the US that Pakistan’s demonstrative work at the international level qualified it being part of these regimes. “With our inclusion, the global non-proliferation objectives will get strengthened,” he said.