By GEOFFREY BEW
PAKISTAN's nuclear facilities pose no threat to the security of the Middle East, a top military official said yesterday.
Pakistan joint chiefs of staff committee chairman General Ehsan ul Haq said his country's neighbours and states in the Gulf should not be worried about it demonstrating its capabilities outwith its borders.
He was speaking at a Press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa on the sidelines of the third International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue, which ended yesterday.
"We have highlighted (at the event) that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities is security centric, created only for the security of Pakistan," said Gen Haq.
"We neither have the capability or the intention to make it something beyond Pakistan's basic security requirements."
The military leader was part of a select group of senior officials from Pakistan who were invited to participate in the event for the first time.
General Haq said there were several security issues of concern in the Middle East.
"The unresolved Palestine dispute, the problem of terrorism, the problem of instability and violence in Iraq, the unresolved status of Iran's nuclear programme and the situation in Afghanistan have an impact in this region," he said.
"There are also many other problems specific to individual countries and there is a lingering concern about the presence of external regional forces."
Gen Haq said he was delighted to be part of the Manama Summit, adding that Pakistan had a crucial role to play in the security of the region.
"Pakistan is a key player and has close links with each country in the Gulf," he said.
"We feel that the security, defence and prosperity of the Gulf region is directly related to the security, defence and prosperity of Pakistan.
"It is important for all countries in the Gulf to feel that they have a stake in the peace and stability of the region and we welcome the holding of this dialogue and the participation of all Gulf countries as well as international partners."
