ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said it had no intention to join arms racein the region, however warned to respond with full force in case of anyexternal threat against its sovereignty.
“Pakistan is not willing to be part of arms race, unless it is compelled totake steps for its defence,” the Foreign Office spokesman said at a weeklypress briefing, in response to a query on handing over of recent batch ofRafale fighter jets by France to India. Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisalcalled upon the world not to push the region towards freaking competitionof buying arms, adding that the main focus of Pakistan government wasdevelopment of its education and health sectors.
He said any country with nefarious designs against Pakistan, should bemindful of the befitting response by its air force on February 26, when itdowned two Indian fighter aircraft on violation of air space. “We know howto defend ourselves, may it is Rafale on the other end or whatsoever,” hesaid.
On Kartarpur Corridor, he said the project was expected to be completed asper schedule time, with work underway on fast pace, adding the date ofopening was yet to be finalized.
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He mentioned that the opening would be on time as committed by PrimeMinister Imran Khan, adding that formal invitation had been sent to formerIndian prime minister Manmohan Singh to attend the birth anniversarycelebrations of founder of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak.
