National Command Authority (NCA) expressed full confidence in Pakistan’s capability to meet any form of aggression, external or internal, at a recent meeting. The meeting also reiterated Pakistan’s policy of developing and maintaining Full Spectrum Deterrence, in line with the policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence and avoidance of arms race.
The 23rd meeting of NCA was held under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday said ISPR in a detaied press statement.
The meeting congratulated the scientists and engineers on their contributions to strengthen national defense capabilities.
NCA was briefed comprehensively on the strategic environment. The Authority took stock of the regional security environment and in this regard, noted certain destabilizing actions in Pakistan’s neighborhood, which undermine the objective of maintaining strategic stability in South Asia.
These include the massive arms build-up in the conventional domain, nuclearization of the Indian Ocean Region and plans for the development/deployment of BMD.
It appreciated the technological sophistication demonstrated during the tests of Babur III SLCM and Ababeel Missile System, which have ushered a new era in technological sophistication of Pakistan’s strategic capabilities, said the statement.
The meeting took a detailed review of the Nuclear Security Regime and expressed full confidence in command and control systems and security measures in-place to ensure comprehensive stewardship and security of strategic assets and materials.
NCA re-affirmed that, as a responsible nuclear State, Pakistan would continue to contribute towards global efforts to improve nuclear security and nuclear non-proliferation measures.
The NCA appreciated the high standards of training and operational readiness of the strategic forces to meet all kinds of threats. It asserted that Pakistan desires peaceful co-existence in the region and will endeavor to work with its neighbors to ensure strategic stability in South Asia.
The meeting noted on the implementation of national comprehensive export control measures, which are in line with international export control regimes,. It reiterated that Pakistan has the requisite credentials to become part of various non-proliferation regimes, including the NSG, for which Pakistan seeks adoption of a non-discriminatory criteria based approach.
The NCA was also briefed on the National Space Programme – 2047 and ‘Nuclear Power Programme’ for peaceful uses of nuclear technology, to meet growing energy needs. NCA fully endorsed both these programmes, as they are essential for future national socio-economic prosperity and growth.
NCA particularly noted the potential of a space programme in almost all current and emerging civilian sectors, ensuring resource generation and optimization.
The role of nuclear applications in the fields of health, agriculture, medicine and industry was deeply appreciated. The NCA reiterated Pakistan’s interest in expanding international cooperation in these areas and play a positive role towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as a provider of expertise and services in peaceful nuclear application.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Ministers of Defence and Interior, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chief, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Director General Inter Services Intelligence, Secretary Foreign Affairs and other senior officials.
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