Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Friday said that discriminatory approach towards Pakistan on nuclear issues had impacted strategic stability in South Asia.
Speaking at the launch of “Three Reports under ISSI’s Nuclear Paper Series” organised by Institute of Strategic Studies he said that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and a peace loving nation which had been compelled to acquire nuclear weapons after nuclear explosions were conducted by India.
He said that Pakistan had offered many proposals including a non-aggression pact to India, but it did not respond favourably to these overtures.
“As a nuclear state, Pakistan has always endeavoured to fulfill its international obligations,” he said.
He said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was working under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“We have invested heavily on nuclear safety, export control regimes and robust command and control structure,” he added.
He said that during the last strategic talks, the United States acknowledged in unambiguous terms the credibility of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
He said that Pakistan should be given membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), adding that Pakistan had legitimate uses for fissile material.
Pakistan had been consistently and constructively engaging the international community members of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and IAEA, Chaudhry said, adding that a criteria based approach for membership of NSG would serve the purpose of strategic stability.
He said that Pakistan had not indulged in nuclear arms race and had only acquired minimum credible deterrence.
Pakistan believed that the scarce resources should be used for socio economic development, alleviation of poverty and economic growth, he added.
ISSI Director General Ambassador Masood Khan said Pakistan had demonstrated utmost restraint in its nuclear programme, which was India specific.
He reminded that Pakistan had been discriminated against with all sorts of sanctions during development of its nuclear programme.
“The discrimination must come to an end and double standards should not be applied,” he said.
He said that Pakistan should continue to pursue dialogue for civil nuclear deal with the United States, adding Pakistan was a legitimate and normal nuclear power and had legitimate needs for nuclear energy.
Director General Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Khalid Banuri said that dispute resolution, dialogue and equal security would enhance peace in South Asia.
Pakistan was not the first to acquire nuclear weapons and it desired regional peace, security and stability, he added.
“Our nuclear capability is meant to maintain regional security and avoid war by maintaining credible and minimum nuclear deterrence,” he said.
For India, nuclear weapons were for prestige but for Pakistan the purpose was to stop external aggression, Banuri said, adding that only necessary national resources had been devoted for the nuclear programme.
Banuri said India was increasingly getting belligerent and its relations with neighbours had deteriorated.
Dr Rizwana Abbasi, Dr Zafar Khan, Malik Qasim Mustafa, Ghazala Yameen Jalil, Tahir Mahmood Azad and Dr Naeem Salik presented their papers on nuclear related issues.
