India asked to create conducive environment for talks
PHOTO: FILE
Adviser to the National Command Authority Lt-Gen (retd) Mazhar Jamil on Tuesday said Indian acquisition of offensive and aggressive military capability with the help of the US-led west has compelled Pakistan to take measures to restore the strategic balance of power in the region.
He was speaking at a seminar on “National Security Imperatives — A Comprehensive Framework of Traditional and Non-Traditional Security Determinants”, hosted by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in collaboration with Karakoram International University (KIU)
The event was attended by senior military and government officials, academics and experts from the field of nuclear and space technologies.
“In the face of growing Indian military capability and aggressive doctrines, Pakistan has no choice but to take countermeasures to any Indian attempt of creating an imbalance in the region and launching any military aggression,” he said.
Gen Jamil said Indian conventional and military build-up was being patronised by the US-led west, which is also providing Delhi access to advanced nuclear technologies and materials disregarding international norms and commitments of the non-proliferation regime.
He said that the west by turning a blind eye to rising Hindu nationalism and extremism was contributing to India’s transformation into a highly irresponsible nuclear power.
“It has been witnessed in the past decade and a half that any political or military support that New Delhi receives, it tends to use it against Pakistan while presenting itself as a counterweight against China,” he asserted.
Pakistan, as a responsible nuclear weapon state, the NCA adviser emphasized seeks strategic stability and shall maintain full spectrum deterrence (FSD). However, at the same time Pakistan, he maintained, remains open to exploring bilateral arms control mechanisms with India to reduce nuclear risks and prevent war.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s desire for peace, Gen Jamil said, the government is willing to work with India for the resolution of all outstanding disputes including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir based on principle of equality.
“Therefore, the onus of responsibility lies on India for taking appropriate measures to create an enabling environment for the resolution of disputes and for enduring peace and stability in the region,” he maintained.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Executive Director CISS Ali Sarwar Naqvi gave a detailed account of Pakistan’s security imperatives in the background of Pakistani nuclear and space programs.
“Pakistan’s success in harnessing the peaceful atom for socio-economic development has earned it the respect and recognition of the IAEA. I was a personal witness to the IAEA’s favourable view of Pakistan when I was Ambassador to the Agency in Vienna”, said Naqvi.
While talking about Pakistan’s Space Vision 2047, Naqvi underlined that it is the intermediary step aimed at peaceful exploration of space to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals towards the water, climate, agriculture, and health security. Similarly, one of the glaring needs is to emphasize regional strategic dynamics and challenges, essentially, the role of emerging technologies and their impact on deterrence and strategic stability.
In this regard, it is also essential to understand Pakistan’s responsible role in nuclear safety and security compliance with different nuclear proliferation regimes’ provisions and Pakistan’s rational outlook vis-à-vis its adversary, he added.
SUPARCO member Zafar Iqbal, stated that a Space Applications and Research Centre was being established in Gilgit-Baltistan, which would be fully operational in spring of next year.
“Pakistan is cognizant of the fact that the future use of space will be marked by an increased emphasis on practical applications in space domain therefore it has prioritized the use of space applications and Geo-Spatia information services to contribute to the fullest extent in socio-economic development of the country,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2022.