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'Indian defence budget a threat to region's peace'

ISLAMABAD: Ch Ahsan Iqbal, former deputy chairman Planning Commission and Central leader of Pakistan Muslim League has expressed grave concern over the Rs 130 billion increase in Indian defence budget and termed it a serious threat to the peace and security of the region.

Talking to PPI here on Thursday, Ahsan Iqbal maintained that as there are economic as well as strategic imbalance between the two countries which has put the peace of the region at stake. He urged the military rulers to restore democracy for the political stability in the country.

"So the elected government in the country at the international level, through an effective foreign policy, could make failure the expansionist designs of India", he said.

He said since long time India was making efforts to create her hegemony in the region and the massive increase in the defence budget by the hostile neighbour is an ample proof of this.

He said in past the PML, under the dynamic leadership of Nawaz Sharif, gave a matching response to India by conducting nuclear tests and restored the strategic balance that had been upset by Indian nuclear explosions. He said the PML government played a historic role in making the country's defence strong.

He said after the nuclear explosions economic sanctions imposed on Pakistan by the international community, badly damaged the country's economy but the PML very successfully pulled out the nation of the economic crisis.

He said the economic policies adopted by the PML government had started accruing positive results but the military action of October 12, destroyed it.

He said today Pakistan is passing through a economic crisis which has increased serious defence dangers, he said adding, last year, "our defence budget was Rs 145 billion for the current year which was reduced to 138 billion by the military rulers. PPI