Insisting that "war is not an option" in the region, Pakistan today said it is committed to resuming the dialogue process with India as talks are the only way forward to improve the bilateral ties.
Mutual cooperation and dialogue are the only way forward and will benefit both countries, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters after a function at the Foreign Office Training Academy in Islamabad.
"We have to engage to resolve all issues," he said.
Asked about India's recent launch of its first nuclear-powered submarine 'INS Arihant', he said "Pakistan does not want to follow an arms race in the region but there is balance due to the strategic ability of Pakistan."
"This balance clearly indicates that war in not an option in the region and it will be a suicidal attempt," he said.
Though Pakistan has taken "serious notice" of the launch of the nuclear submarine, it "is fully aware of its defence needs and confident of its defence strength," he said, adding the country also has no aggressive designs against anyone.
As dialogue is the only way forward and there did not seem to be any lack of will among leaders of Pakistan and India, it is expected that the dialogue process will resume soon, Qureshi said.
"There is a need for leaders of both countries to adopt a careful and optimistic attitude for the resumption and success of the dialogue process...With positive attitudes, we can make progress," he said.
