Nuclear parity would be maintained in South Asia at all costs: Kasuri

Pakistans Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said that nuclear parity would be maintained at all costs in South Asia, and asked the US to promote a uniform policy towards states in the region.

Islamabad, Aug 23 : Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said that nuclear parity would be maintained at all costs in South Asia, and asked the US to promote a uniform policy towards states in the region.

Pakistan has improved relations with its neighbours over the years, but faced some problems in enhancing ties with India and Afghanistan, Kasuri added.

He said Pakistan was actively engaged with India through back channel diplomacy to settle the Kashmir conflict, and as soon as some agreement was reached, it would be presented in the Parliament and Cabinet for approval.

Kasuri urged the international community to address the issues faced by Muslim states to fight terrorism, and added that Pakistan had joined the US-led anti-terror war in its own interest, but would not allow any state to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

He concluded the debate on foreign policy by saying that Pakistan couldn't afford isolation and disengagement in the comity of nations and that the country's national interests were kept supreme while framing foreign policy.

Rejecting the opposition members' call for a review of the policy towards the United States, Kasuri insisted that Pakistan had made a foreign policy targeting strong defence, national security and economic stability and apprised the countries concerned of its 'red lines'.

He said the government had to make unpopular decisions at times, but Pakistan's interests were kept supreme in the process.

Kasuri accepted that some terrorists have taken refuge in tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan against which forces were in action.

He said that Pakistan's foreign policy did not revolve around the US but was aimed at promoting relations with all countries especially Asian countries, the European Union, China, Russia, Japan and Germany.

Kasuri denied that Pakistan was blindly accepting "each and every thing" coming from the US, and said the government was and would continue protecting national interests.

ANI