Pakistan's foreign policy needs no altering: Munir Akram

ISLAMABAD: Former ambassador to United Nations Munir Akram Tuesday said Pakistan's foreign policy did not need any altering although emerging US-India strategic cooperation had significance for Pakistan.

Speaking at a "Public Talk" titled "The 2018 US Nuclear Posture Review: Global and Regional Security" organized by Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad (SSII) here, he said the 2018 US NPR would have numerous implications for global and regional security.

He deplored that Indian nuclear force expansion and its war-fighting doctrine (Cold Start) had never invited the US or Western criticism.

Ambassador Akram said although South Asia had not been mentioned in the NPR but it had been covered in the context of non-proliferation.

"NPR also identifies China as strategic rival and endorses entire nuclear modernization and sustenance programme of the US in response to the expansion of Chinese nuclear arsenal," he added.      He said, however, the 2018 US Nuclear Posture Review's importance should be viewed in relation to its predecessors.

"Previous reviews were focused on the retention of nuclear weapons and were favourable for arms control and disarmament initiatives as well", Munir Akram said.

In her concluding remarks, Director General SSII Dr. Shireen Mazari highlighted that the purpose of the talk was to highlight the new trends in the United States Nuclear Policy and its implications in regard to Pakistan's regional interests.

She reiterated that Pakistan should remain wary of the US-India strategic partnership.

The public talk was attended by large number of people, including members of civil society, bureaucrats, university students and media representatives.