Pakistan concerned over Indian defense budget increase: minister
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, July 9, IRNA -- Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Friday Islamabad is "concerned" but not worried over the increase in the Indian defense budget. "Billions of rupees increase in Indian defense budget was not understandable because of the security environment in the region," the official told a news conference in Islamabad. India announced a 770-billion-rupees defense budget on Thursday, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. He said that despite the increase in the defense budget and the statements of some Indian leaders, Pakistan wants to continue the dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues amicably. "India is enjoying good relations with China and relations with Pakistan are also improving," he added. "Pakistan is fully alive to its defense needs and would not allow any imbalance in this connection," Sheikh Rashid said, adding that Pakistan would not indulge in an arms race. "Pakistan will continue to take forward its missile program," he said, referring to a statement of Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf which said that Islamabad will conduct another missile test in the next two months. Replying to a question, the minister said the fencing by India of its side of the Line of Control in Kashmir was "illegal" and against the UN Charter. "Pakistan has already asked India to refrain from this illegal act." The international community knows that Kashmir is a disputed territory and should be resolved through UN resolutions and in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, he told reporters. TK/TSH/2321/1432
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