(Karachi) Ambassador Munir Akram has said that India’s aggressive behaviour and its military belligerence are being fed by those powers which are supplying it with the latest weaponry, either to turn a profit or to serve their strategic objectives in Asia.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly’s First Committee which deals with disarmament and international security issues, Akram warned that the international community should take notice of India’s aggressive policies and military posture which posed an immediate threat to world peace and security, especially to Pakistan.

India threat to region's stability

"India’s aggressive posture and actions are accompanied by one of the world’s largest military acquisition and development programmes, with over $70 billion spent last year on new conventional and non-conventional weapons systems on land, sea, air and space," he highlighted.

He said that India, as part of its aim to destabilize peace in the region, has nuclearized the Indian Ocean, deployed anti-ballistic missiles (ABMs), developed and tested debris-generating Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons, and is constantly increasing the range, sophistication and diversification of all types of delivery systems and platforms.

The ambassador pointed out, "India has operationalized its ‘cold start’ doctrine of a surprise attack against Pakistan, deploying several ‘strike force’ brigades along the border, outlined plans for a naval blockade, and proclaimed the intention of fighting a ‘limited war’ with Pakistan under the ‘nuclear overhang’. ”

Munir maintained that as a result of Indian government's non-serious attitude, there has been a remarked increase in border tensions and military competition in the region.

India refuses to engage in dialogue

The envoy stated that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-RSS Hindu extremist government came into power in 2014, India constantly refused to engage in any dialogue with Pakistan on either the resolution of disputes, or the control of armaments and avoidance of war.

Akram told the forum that Pakistan desires peace and strategic stability to achieve socio-economic development in the region. He said Pakistan is against arms race and will continue to play its role to promote peace and harmony.

However, he made it clear: "Keeping in view the disturbing security dynamics in the region, Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its security and to maintain full spectrum deterrence."

Resolution of J&K issue essential for peace

Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he said that peace and stability in South Asia is not possible without resolving the core issue. He added, "Pakistan’s proposal for a strategic restraint regime in South Asia, based on these inter-locking elements, remains on the table."

The ambassador to UN mentioned that on August 5, 2019, India ripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and deployed more than 200,000 troops in the held valley. He said several political leaders who are part of freedom movement and 13,000 Kashmiri youth were abducted and arrested and given collective punishments.

He Indian forces resort to targeting innocent civilians along the Line of Control in Kashmir, accompanying these provocations with threats of aggression.

Pakistan will respond decisively

Munir Akram stated that Pakistan has acted with restraint, but will respond decisively to any Indian aggression with the full force.

Pakistan, he said, remains committed to the goal of a nuclear weapons free world, achieved in a universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory manner which assures undiminished security for all States, at the lowest possible level of armaments.

Pakistan promotes disarmament

The envoy said that comprehensive disarmament and the establishment of an equitable and non-discriminatory international order could be promoted by: addressing the security concerns of all states; limiting conventional weapons stockpiles; strengthening the non-proliferation regime by pursuing non-discriminatory arrangements; and extending negative security assurances to non-nuclear weapon states.

Regarding the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) negotiations, he stated that Pakistan reiterated its call for forging of a new consensus on this issue that addresses existing asymmetries.