20000105

India building artificial tension: Sattar

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar on Tuesday said India was building "artificial tension" which indicated its hostility towards Pakistan.

"That has served to make evident the rationale of Pakistan's nuclear programme. Nuclear deterrence is indispensable for the defence and security of our country," he told a seminar organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on the CTBT here.

Sattar said Pakistan had been the target of "vicious Indian propaganda, motivated by a pre-conceived design to falsely implicate Pakistan in the Indian plane's hijacking incident" ending last week.

He said: "Our conduct throughout the incident reflected our desire for peace with India."

Pakistan, he said, acted in accordance with law and humanitarian norms.

During the Indian plane's stay in Pakistan the safety of the passengers and crew was Pakistanis primary concern. "The Indian external affairs minister expressed gratitude for our cooperation," he said.ÑAPP