Pakistan, India should agree upon ‘strategic stability’ framework: President Alvi

• Arif Alvi urged UN to play role in facilitating resolutions in long-standing disputes
• Alvi says Pakistan is committed to objective strategic stability in South Asia

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said that he hoped the two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan could agree upon a framework for “strategic stability”.

While addressing a conference “The Global Non-Proliferation Regime: Challenges and Responses”, at the Strategic Studies Institute in Islamabad, the president said, “While Pakistan will continue to demonstrate restraint and responsibility, no one should doubt our resolve to deny any space for war to those seeking such an opportunity, despite the existence of nuclear weapons in South Asia.”

He further added that “nobody should doubt Pakistan’s capability to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

Furthermore, the president asked the international community to take “serious note” of the talks being carried out regarding “surgical strikes and limited war,” which he said, “just tends to up the postures of both countries”.

However, Alvi regretted that “our postures for peace have been reciprocated with belligerence,” adding that “the proponents of such reckless fantasies will bear the responsibility for any consequences”.

Dr Arif also called upon United Nations to facilitate the nations in finding a resolution in the long-standing disputes including Kashmir.

He said that the unresolved issue with Kashmir is one of the “underlying factors for instability”.

“Pakistan is committed to objective strategic stability in South Asia,” he said

In his speech, Alvi said that “prior to 1998, Pakistan had relentlessly pursued a policy to keep South Asia free of nuclear weapons but that 1974 detonation in the region, as well nuclear tests conducted by the country’s neighbour in 1998, ended any prospects for a nuclear-free zone in the region”.

“We were forced to respond through our own tests to restore the strategic balance in the region,” he said.

“Pakistan has, however, not given up the pursuit of meaningful engagement with India for confidence building, avoidance of arms race and risk reduction,” Alvi added.