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'Pak capable of ensuring security amid India's spy sat launch'

April 23, 2009 23:12 IST
Pakistan on Thursday said it is fully capable of safeguarding its security in the face of induction of new technology and weapon system by India, including an Israeli-made spy satellite launched earlier this week.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said the implications of the Indian spy satellite are being evaluated. Though Pakistan is mindful of the challenges posed by the induction of new technology and weapon system by India, it is fully capable of safeguarding its security, he said at a weekly news briefing.

"Pakistan places a high premium on maintaining the strategic stability in South Asia. It has repeatedly underscored the need for a comprehensive strategic restraint regime which is in the fundamental interest of the people of the region," Basit said in response to a question about the implications of Indian spy satellite.

He hoped that India and the international community would be mindful of the imperative needs of addressing the pressing issues facing the region. Answering another question, Basit said Pakistan and India should sit together and try, "in all seriousness", to resolve long-standing issues including the Kashmir problem.

Basit hoped New Delhi would realise the importance of these issues in order to move forward for the people of the region.

India on Monday launched the Israeli-made RISAT-2, an all-weather spy satellite that is expected to boost its surveillance capabilities and help tackle infiltration along its borders.

The launch also reflected the growing defence ties between India and Israel, whose foreign minister recently said Pakistan and Afghanistan posed the "biggest threat" to the Jewish nation.

Pakistan has taken strong exception to the "unwarranted remarks" of the Israeli foreign minister, with Basit saying such efforts to "malign or isolate" the country would not succeed.

"Pakistan is a moderate and progressive nation and an active member of the international community in the war on terror and the resilient nation would soon overcome the challenges being faced by the country," he said.

Rezaul H Laskar in Islamabad