Pakistan to maintain nuclear edge: spokesman
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islambad, Feb 25, IRNA -- Pakistan will maintain competitive edge of its nuclear program and enhance the capability "qualitatively and quantitatively", Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said Wednesday. "The purpose and objective of our nuclear program is to deter aggression, safeguard national security and protect sovereignty," Khan told reporters at weekly news briefing in Islamabad. Referring to President Pervez Musharraf`s statement that Pakistan will not roll back its nuclear program and would try to improve it in all dimensions, he added, "Pakistan can sustain its nuclear program through indigenous means and resources". Khan said Pakistan is a nuclear-weapon state and this fact has been acknowledged by other states. "Major nations do recognise the reality that Pakistan has nuclear weapons." He also said Pakistan wants a strategic restraint regime and conventional balance with India. "We do not want an arms race between the two countries." In reply to a question, the spokesman said Pakistan will not hand over its scientists to IAEA as it is not a signatory to the NPT. He said Pakistan`s investigations have been transparent. He said that there are nationals of other countries involved and they are also conducting their investigations. "The next step should be that IAEA and other organizations intensify investigation into the black market." Khan declined to divulge any information about the arrested persons and their nationality in the military operation in South Waziristan yesterday. "Pakistan is trying to locate and neutralise threats lurcking in the tribal area and flush out all terrorists and eliminate them." Regarding fencing of the Line of Control (LoC) by India, he said Pakistan has raised its concerns with the Indian government and kept the United Nations informed about the development. He said this issue will be taken up during the composite dialogue process. About Bagliar Dam being constructed by India over Chenab River, he said the Indus Water Commissioners of the two countries have so far been unable to resolve differences over the design of the dam. "Pakistan will continue its endeavours to have those differences resolved in accordance with the provisions of the treaty". He, however, said Pakistan has not foreclosed its options. In reply to a question about restoration of Pakistan`s full membership to the Commonwealth, Masud Khan said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali discussed the matter with the current chairman of the Organization, Nigerian President during the D-8 Summit in Tehran. He said the response of the Nigerian President was encouraging and positive. He hoped the issue of restoration of Pakistan`s full membership to the Commonwealth would be resolved at the next meeting of the Commonwealth ministers. About the visit of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Anatoly Safonov to Pakistan, he said the Russian deputy minister met the Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar Wednesday. "They discussed bilateral relations, Pak-India ties, counter terrorism, drug trafficking and issues of regional and international importance. The Foreign Secretary renewed President Musharraf`s invitation to President Putin to visit Pakistan at the earliest," he added. Khokhar reiterated the commitment of Pakistan to re-invigorate relations with Russia in all fields particularly defence and communication, said the spokesman. "He also desired for early expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills by Russia." TK/TSH/212 End
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