ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the world community to dissuade India from its disproportionate arms build-up which could lead to an arms race in South Asia.
Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the world was already a witness to the bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric by the BJP government in pursuit of a revisionist agenda in the neighbourhood.
Reacting to the reports of recent acquisition of Rafale jets by Indian Air Force, the spokesperson said India continued to amass military capabilities beyond its genuine security requirement.
She said Pakistan has been consistently highlighting the risks of massive Indian arms buildup as well as their offensive security doctrine and force postures, which are adversely affecting strategic stability in South Asia.
“This arms buildup is being aided and abetted through a policy of exemptions, waivers and supply of advanced equipment, technology and weapons for narrow commercial interests,” she said.
Aisha Farooqui said such arms transfers also violate the objectives of various export control regimes on preventing destabilizing accumulations of arms in various regions including where there exist outstanding conflicts and disputes.
On Pakistan’s part, she said, we remain open to consideration of measures for crisis management, risk reduction, and strategic restraint.
While remaining opposed to any arms race in South Asia, Aisha Farooqui said Pakistan cannot remain oblivious to these developments and remains confident of its ability to thwart any ill-considered act of aggression.
