Pakistan does not believe in nuclear arms race with India, says Salman Bashir

The outgoing High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, Salman Bashir on Monday said that Pakistan does not believe in a nuclear arms race or any arms race with India or any other nation, and added that strategic restraint is the answer

"Pakistan does not believe in a nuclear arms race or any arms race with India or with anybody else. We certainly do not want to see the nuclear threshold being lowered. We believe that strategic restraint is the answer," he told media here today.

He further said that Pakistan would continue to make constructive proposals to India for strategic stability.

"We will continue to make constructive proposals to India, and also more broadly if necessary. I say India because we have a bilateral dialogue on issues of strategic stability. We have made very positive constructive suggestions for strategic stability," he added.

Bashir also said Pakistan will do whatever it can to make it impossible for a nuclear scenario to arise in the South Asian region.

"Like India we carry out missile tests, we have an indigenous missile program. We think it is required in terms of Pakistan's defense. No offense intended to anybody. I think the rational way is to look at it, primarily Pakistan-India in the context of strategic stability in South Asia. We are very forthcoming; we will continue to do whatever we can to make it impossible for a nuclear scenario in this region,' he added.