ISLAMABAD: Terming it as a threat to the strategic stability in South Asia, Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday expressed concern over India’s first “deterrence patrol” of a nuclear submarine by saying that it was a matter of concern not just for the region but the international community at large.
“This development marks the first actual deployment of ready-to-fire nuclear warheads in South Asia which is a matter of concern not only for the Indian Ocean littoral states but also for the international community at large,” Foreign Office Spokesperson, Dr. Mohammad Faisal said in his weekly press briefing on Thursday.
India’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arihant completed its first deterrence patrol on Monday, a move which signifies that it is fully operational and, when deployed for extended patrols, can facilitate Indian forces in firing nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the INS Arihant was a “fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail,” in a veiled reference to nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and China.
“Arihant is an open warning for the country’s enemies, for the foes of peace: don’t try any misadventure against India,” Modi told the crew of the submarine in a speech televised across the nation.
Responding to his saber-rattling, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that the bellicose language employed by India’s leadership “highlights the threats to strategic stability in South Asia and raises questions about responsible nuclear stewardship in India”.
Faisal added that the increased frequency of missile tests by India, along with aggressive posturing and deployment of nuclear weapons, “calls for an assessment of the non-proliferation benefits resulting from the Indian membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime”.
“Pakistan believes that the only way forward for both the countries is to agree on measures for nuclear and missile restraint,” he said.
The spokesperson also said that no one should doubt Pakistan’s resolve and capabilities “to meet the challenges posed by the latest developments both in the nuclear and conventional realms in South Asia”.
Tahir Malik, an academic and analyst, said that it was unfortunate to see India pursuing the arms race and trying to establish its hegemony in the region with the acquisition of the latest weapons and war technology. “Both Pakistan and India should work together for progress and prosperity of their people and the whole region, instead of investing billions of dollars on arms and ammunition,” he told Arab News.
Addressing other issues on hand, Faisal added that Pakistan would be attending the peace talks in Moscow which are scheduled to be held on Friday. “We have released Taliban leader Mullah Baradar on the request of the United States to give impetus to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” he added.
Commenting on the case of Aasia Bibi, who was exonerated of blasphemy charges last week, Faisal refuted reports that she had been flown out the country to seek asylum elsewhere – one of the pre-conditions set by protesting parties in order for them to call off the three-day demonstrations last week. “She is in Pakistan at a safe location,” Faisal said.
The spokesperson also said that Pakistan had raised the issue of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui “very effectively” with the United States during US Ambassador Alice Wells’ recent visit to Islamabad. “There are some developments regarding the case, but we will share it with the media at an appropriate time,” he added.
Pakistan expresses concern over India’s nuclear submarine
Pakistan expresses concern over India’s nuclear submarine
- Wants New Delhi to exercise restraint in acquiring missiles
- Experts say both countries should invest in people instead of indulging in the arms race
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
