Pakistan marks 10th year as responsible nuclear state: FO

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has taken its responsibilities as a nuclear weapon state seriously and did not relent in its pursuit for creating a peaceful global and regional environment, Foreign Office said on Wednesday. In a statement issued on the 10th anniversary of nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in 1998, the Foreign Office spokesman termed it a historic day in the nation’s quest for security.
“At all levels bilaterally and multilaterally, we have endeavoured to promote the cause of peace, disarmament and non-proliferation. We have urged restraint and responsibility at the regional plane,” the spokesman said.
He said Pakistan initiated additional proposals for mutual confidence building as well and promoting regionally stability. Pakistan instituted an elaborate Nuclear Command and Control mechanism in February 2000. Pakistan has also instituted strong export control mechanisms which are at par with international standards.
Pakistan is opposed to a nuclear race in South Asia and is significant that in the joint statement issued after the first round of Nuclear CBMs held between Pakistan and India in June 2004, both sides recognized “nuclear capabilities of each other, based on their national security imperatives, constitute a factor for stability”.
While continuing to act with responsibility and avoiding an arms race, Pakistan will neither be oblivious to its security requirements, nor to the needs of its economic development, according to the statement.