ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed reports that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal had doubled to edge past a stockpile of 100 deployed weapons as “unnecessary alarmist reporting”.
Responding to reports that Pakistan was increasing its stockpile of nuclear weapons, the Foreign Office said it would continue to follow a responsible policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence.
“Pakistan is mindful of the need to avoid arms race with India but would never compromise on its national security,” a Foreign Office spokesman said while responding to an article in New York Times titled “Pakistani Nuclear Arms Pose Challenge to US Policy.”
The Washington Post also reported yesterday that according to estimates by nongovernment analysts, Pakistan had significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them,
It also said that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal had “now edged ahead of India, its nuclear-armed rival.”
A statement by the Foreign Office said that “In the nuclearized environment of South Asia, Pakistan continues to attach importance to ensuring peace, security and stability in South Asia and was mindful of the adverse implications of ‘selectivity and exceptionalism in evidence on issues of nuclear non-proliferation.’”
It said that Pakistan had consistently advocated the need to resume the stalled Pakistan-India Dialogue, including on issues of peace and security.
“In this context, Pakistan’s proposal for strategic restraint regime in South Asia, including nuclear and conventional forces as well as resolution of all issues and disputes, is of extreme importance.”
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