Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday vowed to protect Pakistan's nuclear assets at all costs and not to let any foreign forces interfere inside country's territory.
"We will never tolerate if anyone casts an evil eye on our nuclear assets," the prime minister said here at the national flag-hoisting ceremony, marking the 60th Independence Day of the country.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan is the only nuclear Islamic state and has put in place a strong command and control structure. He said weak nations cannot maintain peace and that is why Pakistan has strengthened its defence. "We have enough strength, courage and ability to defend our nuclear assets," the prime minister said.
He said the country's nuclear assets were a source of pride and sovereignty and the nation has always shown solidarity and stood united on this matter, adding Pakistan's strong defence capability was a guarantee of peace. "We have the ability to defend our motherland till the last drop of our blood," the prime minister asserted.
In an apparent reference to the recent statements of military action inside Pakistan's tribal areas against reported terrorist hideouts, he said: "Pakistan's armed forces are fully capable of effectively defending its borders."
"We will not let any foreign forces interfere inside Pakistan's territory," the prime minister categorically stated. He said Pakistan's armed forces have always rendered their duty with efficiency, commitment and devotion and paid rich tributes to them for their role in helping the nation, whether it was under threat from external threats or the floods or the earthquake.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan gave due importance to relations with its neighbours and was responsibly performing its duty to maintain peace and stability in the region.
"Mutual respect is the basic principle of our foreign policy," he said. He said Kashmir was of vital importance in country's foreign policy and reiterated the government's stance of seeking a resolution of the issue according to the aspirations of the people of occupied Kashmir.
Referring to the global menace of terrorism, Shaukat Aziz said no country was safe from its tentacles, adding: "We are against terrorism, because our religion Islam is strongly against such tendencies ... it teaches us lesson of brotherhood and tolerance and does not allow anyone to use Islam for their ulterior objectives."
The prime minister said Pakistan was utilising all its resources in an effective way, but pointed that addressing the root causes was vital to fully counter this threat. He said it was the responsibility of the international community to move forward to eliminate terrorism as only peace could bring progress and prosperity.
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