President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday said Pakistan's defence strategy was based on "defensive deterrence", both in conventional and unconventional spheres.
"We want to use our arms for peace only for defensive deterrence," President Musharraf told participants here at the inauguration of fourth International Defence Exhibition and seminar (Ideas) 2006. The President said Pakistan's defence strategy emanated from its belief that peace could only be achieved through strength and not weakness.
He said in the past Pakistan quantified its requirements and weaponry for the army, navy and the airforce to deter any aggression in conventional areas.
"However," he said, "when the threat grew unconventional we had to rectify the imbalance and, therefore, we also went unconventional." President Musharraf said: "Our strategy on defensive deterrence, both in conventional and unconventional fields, is in place, in strength and is growing from strength to strength every year."
The President said Pakistan has learnt from its past experiences to go for indigenous development of its defence products and to diversify markets for purchases.
He said Pakistan in the beginning had excellent defence collaboration with the Afro-Asian countries, mostly in training. He said the country's defence training institutions were very well organised, extended practical training to all ranks from Pakistani and overseas officers. However, now Pakistan wanted to move ahead through joint ventures and wanted to buy and sell products internationally.
In this regard, the President pointed at Pakistan's close collaboration with China, France, Ukraine and other countries. He pointed at the success stories where the country was able to produce the main battle tank al-Khalid that went into production in a record 10-year period and was very cost effective.
Musharraf described it as "one of the best tanks of the world", saying it achieved an accuracy of over 60 percent.
He said the tank had undergone field trials by the 5th Corps in extensive exercises and the troops were pleased by its performance.
Among other success stories, he mentioned the al-Zarrar tank, the K-8 jet trainer, Agosta submarine, F-22P frigates, unmanned aerial vehicles, JF-17 Thunder fighter which, he added, will make its debut on March 23 next year.
The President said one of Pakistan's strength stemmed from the fact that it was using a variety of equipment and weaponry ranging from the one made by the US, UK, France on the one hand and the Chinese, Russian, Korean and Ukrainian on the other.
President Musharraf appreciated the collaboration with Ukraine, particularly over the T-60UD tanks and expressed desire to further expand this co-operation. The President, however, pointed out the greatest threat to any progress were dangers from extremism and terrorism, not only for Pakistan but also for the entire world. He said the only way forward was that of enlightened moderation, by rejecting extremism and terrorism while opting for socio-economic development for the sake of humanity.
"Pakistan is at the forefront in fighting extremism and terrorism and was fighting it militarily, politically, administratively and in the form of development activity," Musharraf added. He expressed d1etermination that Pakistan will succeed this fight and will sustain country's economic upsurge.