Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Wednesday said Pakistan is a peaceful country and believes in maintaining a minimum credible defence to ensure peace and stability in the region.
"Strong and credible defence is the ultimate guarantee to peace," he said this while talking to Chief of Army Staff, General Ishfaq Pervez Kayani, who called on him here at PM's Secretariat. The Prime Minister said Pakistan was a peaceful country and did not harbour aggressive designs against any country, adding that it (Pakistan) believed in peaceful settlement of international disputes through diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan's defence policy based on peaceful coexistence is in conformity with the prevailing geo-strategic environment and the national aspirations, he said. However, he said Pakistan believes that peace is achieved through strength and not weakness. As a responsible nuclear state Pakistan believes in maintaining credible minimum deterrence so as to ensure peace in the region, he added.
Soomro said the armed forces have always played an important role during peacetime as well in the defence of the country to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Matters pertaining to national security and overall defence related matters were also discussed in the meeting. The Chief of Army Staff apprised the Prime Minister of the modernisation and up-gradation of armed forces in keeping with the overall defence strategy and the international security environment.