'Pak follows defensive deterrence strategy'

Karachi, Aug 11: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has said that his country follows a strategy of defensive deterrence and does not have offensive designs against anyone.

He was speaking at the launching ceremony of the indigenously-built Agosta 90-B submarine, Hamza, here yesterday.

This is the third Agosta inducted in the navy. Pakistan had signed a contract with France for purchase of three submarines in 1996. First ship was built in France, the second one was constructed jointly by Pakistani and French engineers while the third one was built indigenously for which DCN, the manufacturers, transferred technology to Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf pointed out that ''when we talk of a defensive deterrence, we mean an offensive defensive deterrence. This submarine has given an offensive punch to the navy.'' He said the government has been following a policy of indigenisation and self-reliance and this project is a manifestation of this strategy.

He said Pakistan had achieved great success in this regard in all the three services. He explained that in the army the main battle tank ''Al-Khalid and the support tank Al-Zarrar'' are the physical manifestations of the highest quality of indigenous products besides many other projects.

He said in the Pakistan Air Force, JF-17, the latest success which will be flying in the skies of Pakistan on March 23rd, is also the indigenous manifestation of the Air Force.

President Musharraf added F 22p frigates in navy will be developed by Pakistani experts themselves.

He criticised ''drawing-room critics and pseudo-intellectuals'' who talk against the development of the armed forces and the expenditure spent on them and also talk of the reduction of the armed forces.

''I want to tell them that security and peace is only guaranteed through force and strength, never through weakness.''

UNI