NCA session under PM Abbasi expresses concern over destabilising elements

RAWALPINDI: The National Command Authority, presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, on Thursday expressed concern at destabilising actions in Pakistan’s neighborhood, said a press release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). 

The meeting took stock of the regional security environment, in addition to the "massive arms build-up in the conventional domain, nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean Region". Concern was also expressed over plans for the development and deployment of a ballistic missile defence system by a neighbouring country.  

The meeting was attended by the civil-military top brass, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations.

The army’s media cell added that the authority, while expressing full confidence in Pakistan’s capability to address any form of aggression, 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 meeting was attended by federal ministers for defence and interior, chairman JSC, chiefs of the three armed services, director general Strategic Plans Division, director general Inter-Services Intelligence, secretary foreign affairs and other senior officials.

During the session, the authority was briefed comprehensively on the strategic environment, said the press release.

The NCA congratulated the scientists and engineers on their contributions to strengthen the national defence capabilities, the ISPR further said.

The authority 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.

The NCA reviewed in detail the nuclear security regime and expressed full confidence in the command and control systems, and security measures in-place for the strategic assets and materials.

The committee re-affirmed that, as a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan would continue to contribute meaningfully towards the 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, according to the ISPR statement.

“The NCA noted with satisfaction, 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,” read the statement.

During the session, the authority was also briefed on National Space Programme – 2047 and ‘Nuclear Power Programme’ for peaceful uses of nuclear technology, to meet growing energy needs, the ISPR informed.

The army’s media cell said that the NCA fully endorsed both these programmes, as these are essential for future national, socio-economic prosperity and growth.

The NCA appreciated the role of nuclear applications in the fields of health, agriculture, medicine and industry, reiterating Pakistan’s interest in expanding international cooperation in these areas and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, said the statement.