India concerned over Pak's high N-arsenal stockpile

India today expressed concern over US reports that Pakistan was having a large nuclear weapon stockpile and wanted the international community to exert pressure on it to cap its nuclear capability.      

"We (India) are concerned because they (Pakistan) are crossing the minimum deterrent threshold. We hope that the international pressure will be exerted on Pakistan to make sure that they retain only minimum deterrence levels," Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju told reporters here, soon after assuming office for the second term.      

"We (India) also have the second strike and deterrence capability. But our stated policy is no-first-use as far as nuclear weapon is concerned. Only retaliatory strike. I am glad that Pakistan is also thinking on the lines of second strike and are behaving like a responsible state," Raju said to a question.      

On the reported nexus between Pakistan and China, which was "encircling" India by establishing defence bases in south Asia, he said the government was aware of the cooperation between the two countries in defence and economic spheres and that it was working to contain their influence in the region.      

Referring to the Gadar port in Pakistan and similar ports in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, the Minister said India was well prepared to meet these threats.      

"We are making efforts to see to it that there is no threat to India," he said.

On the government's priorities in defence sector, Raju said he along with Defence Minister A K Antony, will strive to provide the armed forces with modern weapons and continue their speedy modernisation.       

Besides, the Ministry would look into improving the performance of Research and Development units, Ordnance Factories and Public Sector Undertakings to meet the needs of the armed forces.       

Raju also assured a "transparent" procurement process for the defence forces, apart from timely inductions, avoiding delays in delivery.       

He hoped that the private participation in defence production would benefit much from the offsets policy announced by the government for military purchases.