UNITED NATIONS, Sep 27 : Reaffirming its commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapons-free-world, Pakistan told the U.N. that India was responsible for introducing nuclear weapons in South Asia with a test of an atomic device in 1974, forcing Pakistan to follow suit. \u201cIn South Asia, nuclear weapons capability was introduced by one state in 1974,\u201d Ambassador Munir Akram said, without naming India. \u201cThat state also initiated the South Asia nuclear weapons explosions in 1998,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cPakistan was compelled to follow suit in order to restore strategic stability and deter the aggression against it.\u201d Following the South Asia nuclear tests, Ambassador Akram said that Pakistan proposed the establishment of a Strategic Restraint Regime (SRR) in South Asia, to be premised on three interlocking and mutually reinforcing elements of conflict resolution, nuclear and missile restraint and conventional arms balance. The Pakistani envoy, who was speaking at an event to commemorate the \u2018International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons\u2019, reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world that is achieved in a universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory manner, assuring undiminished security for all States at the lowest possible level of armaments. \u201cThe proposal remains on the table,\u201d Ambassador Akram said, adding that Pakistan\u2019s security policy continues to be defined by restraint and responsibility and avoidance of a mutually debilitating arms race in the region. Pakistan, he said, strongly supports all international efforts seeking to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges. \u201cDiscriminatory approaches, double standards and selectivity in the application of global norms not only weaken global disarmament efforts; they also undermine the non-proliferation regime and the international order based on the principles of the UN Charter and International Law.\u201d At the outset, Ambassador Akram referred to a number of global challenges, including the raging conflicts in Ukraine and in 50 other places around the world, saying tensions between the two most powerful States have continued to escalate. \u201cWe are witnessing new and expanding military blocs; a comprehensive arms race; erosion of long-standing arms control agreements; the development and deployment of huge arsenals of advanced conventional and strategic weapons, including modernization of huge nuclear arsenals; and doctrines which envisage the use of conventional weapons despite the danger of nuclear escalation.\u201d \u201cThe danger of nuclear war is today closer than it has been since the (1962) Cuban missile crisis,\u201d he warned The event was held as the high-level annual debate in the UN General Assembly Hall came to an end. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres observed that \u201cnuclear sabres are again being rattled\u201d in a world that has \u201cspent too long under the shadow of nuclear weapons\u201d as he delivered opening remarks. \u201cLet\u2019s make history by consigning nuclear weapons to history,\u201d he added. To do so, however, nuclear-weapon States must lead the way, the UN chief stressed, calling on them to meet their disarmament obligations. Any use of nuclear weapons would unleash a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions. \u201cThis is the timeless message of the hibakusha \u2014 the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,\u201d he said, adding that the \u201cNew Agenda for Peace\u201d can help usher in a nuclear-weapon-free world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 27 : Reaffirming its commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapons-free-world, Pakistan told the U.N. that India was responsible for introducing nuclear weapons in South Asia with a test of an atomic device in 1974, forcing Pakistan to follow suit. \u201cIn South Asia, nuclear weapons capability was introduced by one state […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":358628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-358620","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n