Pak for conscious efforts to avoid regional arms race

Islamabad: Days after India acquired a nuclear submarine from Russia, Pakistan on Thursday said that all countries in the region should make "conscious efforts" to avoid an arms race.

“I think it is important that all countries in the region should be mindful of the fact that arms race is in no one's interest," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly news briefing. He was responding to a question on whether the leasing of the nuclear submarine would trigger an arms race."

"This region is suffering from poverty and disease. It is important we focus on economic development. Millions of people are still living below the proverbial poverty line.

All countries should make conscious efforts to avoid an arm race," Basit said. At the same time, he noted that relations between Pakistan and Russia were "significantly improving". He said, "We are trying to expand the scope of relations."

India recently took possession of the 8,140-tonne Akula II nuclear submarine from Russia on a 10-year lease.

The craft was handed over to India in a deal that has cost nearly one billion dollars. India previously leased a Soviet-built nuclear submarine in 1988 for three years.

It has now joined China, Russia, the US, Britain and France as an operator of nuclear submarines. India is also developing its own nuclear-powered submarine that is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Russia is expected to help India train the crew that will operate the country's indigenously built nuclear submarine. India and Russia are long-time allies and Russia supplies 70 per cent of India's military hardware.