Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday has said that Pakistan is committed to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and our commitment to fight terrorism has been unswerving.
He expressed these views in his address at International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London on "Imperatives for Peace & Prosperity in South Asia - Pakistan’s Perspective".
24 July 2008: OINN
LONDON: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday has said that Pakistan is committed to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and our commitment to fight terrorism has been unswerving.
He expressed these views in his address at International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London on "Imperatives for Peace & Prosperity in South Asia - Pakistan’s Perspective".
Foreign Minister said Pakistan and UK enjoy a deep lasting relation and Since 9/11 new chapters have been added to Pakistan-UK relations. These new dimensions include our strategic partnership in the fight against terrorism and extremism and the common endeavour to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.
"South Asian region has a concentration of about 1.5 billion people with its woes that are deep-rooted and a cause for human sufferings for decades. Mired in poverty and backwardness, its people have suffered for long and have paid in terms of economic deprivation, adversely affecting the very social fabric of South Asian societies.
The country is now passing through a transition phase with the government laying the foundation of a long term strategy to address the complexities and challenges that I just mentioned", He said
He said South Asia is also gravely affected by the energy crisis and in this context Pakistan is seeking to pursue international gas-pipeline options, with which we hope we will position ourselves as an energy hub for South Asia and possibly China through the port of Gwadar.
The Foreign minister said that we are playing an active role in the international campaign against terrorism as a frontline State and our commitment to fight terrorism has been unswerving notwithstanding the threats terrorism poses today and the terrorist attacks Pakistan has had to face due to its principled position.
"Our message to terrorists is clear and unequivocal. We will not allow our territory to be used by terrorists and we will not be daunted by the threats of terrorism. At the same time, let me also make clear that Pakistan will not allow foreign troops to operate inside its territory. Military action within our territory is the sole prerogative of the Pakistani armed forces", he
emphasised.
The international community will have to ensure that the right of peoples to self-determination is not de-legitimized by associating it with terrorism. The two are clearly distinct and this distinction needs to be maintained through an agreed legal definition of terrorism, he said.
He said Pakistan is fully aware of the threat to Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are doing all we can to ensure that our territory is not used as a staging ground for attacks into Afghanistan. We have deployed more than 100,000 troops on our common border for this purpose. We have good intelligence sharing cooperation with Afghanistan in order to apprehend terrorists on both sides of the border.
Talking on Pak-India relations the FM said our quest for enhancing peace and security in South Asia remains unflinching, sincere and steadfast. In the interest of peace and progress in South Asia there has to be a normalization of relations between Pakistan and India. We are working with India through a composite dialogue process to resolve all issues including Kashmir to ensure durable peace in the region. The international community can help the process by encouraging all parties to stay the course and to demonstrate courage, determination and sincerity, he added.
Reiterating Pakistan’s determination on non proliferation Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan’s nuclear capability must be viewed in the context of India’s pursuit of the nuclear option and our overall security concerns. Pakistan does not seek regional domination or great power status. We do not threaten any country and wish to live in peace.
"Pakistan is committed to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and has developed a fool proof command and control structure to protect our strategic assets. Furthermore effective export controls are in place. At the same time, we believe that no restrictions should be imposed on civilian nuclear cooperation under appropriate safeguards. As a fossil fuel deficit country, we need nuclear power generation to meet the growing needs of energy for our growing economy. We are prepared to accept all safeguards on our civilian nuclear power sector", he said.
South Asia faces many serious challenges of all kinds and Pakistan is ready to play its part seriously and sincerely in building a peaceful and prosperous South Asia, he concluded.
