Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that national security is the top priority of the government and there will be no compromise on the country’s nuclear programme.
He was winding up debate on an adjournment motion moved by Hafiz Hamdullah in the Senate about the statement of US Secretary of State John Kerry that Saudi Arabia could purchase a nuclear bomb from Pakistan.
Sartaj Aziz said the statement of the US Secretary of State was misquoted by the media. The Advisor said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme is for deterrence and the entire world is appreciative of its Command and Control System.
He said that during the visit of the prime minister to the United States and his own visit to Washington, the US authorities were categorically told that Pakistan would not accept any restriction on its nuclear programme.
“They were told that the concept of deterrence is dynamic and Pakistan will have to take care of the capacity and advances being made by its rival,” Aziz said.
The advisor said that Pakistan, with the cooperation of China, had successfully blocked India’s bid to seek membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. He rejected the statement of Indian defence minister that the Pakistani government was linked to the Pathankot attack.