MINISTER of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar voiced concern on Thursday over the “generous” supply of conventional and non-conventional weapons to India, saying it was severely straining South Asia’s strategic stability and threatening “our national security”. “The largest country in the region continues to be a beneficiary of nuclear exceptionalism, in violation of established non-proliferation norms and principles,” Khar told the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, a 65-member forum established by the international community to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements, via a video-link from Islamabad.
The remarks of the Minister highlight not only concerns of Pakistan but also other neighbouring countries of India in view of the track record of New Delhi as an aggressor and trouble-maker, spoiling prospects of regional peace and security. The generous supplies of both conventional and non-conventional arms and technologies to India are straining the security environment; heightening the risks to peace and stability in the region; reinforcing a sense of impunity in the recipient state and freezing pathways to conflict resolution through peaceful means. The latest defence allocations also confirm India’s regional and global ambitions as it hiked the defence budget by 13% to $72.6 billion, aiming to add more fighter jets and roads along its tense border with China.
India plans to spend near 242 billion rupees ($3 billion) for naval fleet construction and 571.4 billion rupees ($7 billion) for air force procurements including more aircraft. It is because of India’s aggressive posture that its neighbours including Pakistan feel existential threats that might force them to take necessary steps to defend their sovereignty. It is, however, regrettable that a region that is plagued with poverty, ignorance and disease should focus more on jingoistic pursuits. Pakistan has repeatedly proposed measures to ensure strategic stability in South Asia but there was no positive response from India. No doubt, advanced countries have commercial interests in defence and nuclear cooperation with India but this should not be at the cost of threats to the security and peace of the region.
