BEIJING: Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid has said that the military or defense expenditure of Pakistan is purely for defense purpose as we do not want any conflict in our region “While, we have a right as a sovereign country to maintain a certain level of military preparedness, we are against the arms race in South Asia,” he said while speaking at a talk show of China Global Television Network (CGTN).
He said, “India’s weapons deal with the US, Russia and Israel is negatively affecting strategic stability in the region. This increasing militarization of the region is not at all conducive for peace and stability. I do not understand that while there are millions of people who deserve better way of life, yet there has been a ten percent increase in defense budget by our eastern neighbor.”
Ambassador Khalid said, “We need to focus on development of our region to bring prosperity and progress of the people and we should not be engaged in an arms race in the region and in the long term, it will be good for India and Pakistan and for the region.”
Regarding a possibility of both countries slipping into a war, he said, “There was no such possibility. We have been exercising utmost restraint in the wake of these ongoing provocations on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary.”
He said, “There is no comparison between the defense budget of India and Pakistan. South Asia was nuclearised by India in the 1970s. We did not react and exercised restraint even then. In 1998, India again went for nuclear explosion and then as defensive strategy to ensure our sovereignty, Pakistan also did nuclear explosion for deterrence purpose to safeguard our security and interest.”
He said, “Pakistan wants to focus on development of the region and seeks peace with its neighbor. This is our consistent position and policy.” He urged India to fulfill its promise on Kashmir and give an access to the military observers group created under a United Nations mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations on the LoC.
“On Kashmir, India promised a plebiscite under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions to Kashmiri people and it was India which took Kashmir issue to the Security Council and under those resolutions, a UN mechanism was created which is called United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP),” the Ambassador said.
“While Pakistan has given full access to the UNMOGIP to monitor ceasefire violations, such access is not granted by India to the group which is again a violation of Security Council resolutions and yet our eastern neighbor wants to become a permanent member of UNSC,” he said.
Ambassador Khalid opined that, “Just resolution of Kashmir is in the interest of people of South Asia and for the greater good and prosperity of this region. Pakistan has a principled position on such issues. We believe that sovereign countries enter into international agreements and understandings and those understandings and agreements should be respected.”
Responding to Indian Army Chief’s remark about two and a half wars referring to Pakistan, China and India’s internal conflict, he said, “Such hawkish and belligerent statements are not at all conducive to peace and stability in our region. We believe in peaceful neighborhood and seek resolution of disputes through peaceful means.”
Terming the dialogue a way to move forward, he said, “Such statements are irresponsible, adding, as for as Pakistan is concerned, I assure that our armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality. Pakistan would do everything to defend it sovereignty and it is right of every country to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, let there be no doubt about it.”
On Indian bids to join Nuclear Supply Group (NSG), he said, “The strategic balance will be changed in the region. I do not understand the mindset and military spending on part of India and their quest for NSG membership.”
Ambassador Khalid said, “In 2008, India was given a waiver for nuclear trade and since then we have seen there has been increased belligerence on the part of India.”
He said, “If India is granted yet again this waiver to have the membership of NSG, it will not only alter strategic balance in South Asia but it will ignite an arms race which will not be good for global non proliferation regime.” He asked the world community to take on account the reality of all these factors.
