‘We do not want to join arms race in S Asia,’ Pakistan tells MTCR

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad-Pakistan does not want to join an arms race in South Asia, a senior official told a delegation of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) here on Thursday, amid efforts by Islamabad to join the elite grouping that includes India and controls export in high-end missile technologies.

“Pakistan has always remained in the forefront to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction,” Additional Secretary at the Foreign Office Tasneem Aslam told the MTCR delegation led by Director General HAM Sang-wook. Making a case for Pakistan’s entry into the 35-member elite club, Aslam stressed Islamabad’s non-proliferation credentials and said that it has “always followed international standards while delivering weapons”.

She also said that Pakistan does not want to join the arms race in South Asia. Pakistan has intensified its efforts to join the exclusive club of countries controlling exports in missile technology since India joined the elite grouping last year as its 35th member. Notably, India was successful in joining MTCR, ahead of Pakistan’s all-weather ally China, whose application is pending since 2004. A country’s non-proliferation record is one of the key criteria to join the club.