By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday said his country desired peaceful co-existence with all its neighbours and wars were not part of a “democratic mindset”.
Stressing that wars were never a solution to resolve issues, Zardari said: “War is not part of a democratic mindset.”
Addressing participants of a security course at the National Defence University (NDU) here, Zardari, however, said the nation will remain vigilant and prepared for any eventuality, Online news agency reported.
He called for building up capability of the defence forces of the country to meet any eventuality, adding that security and defence also depended on a sound economic base and Pakistan was taking all measures to put its economy back on track.
Zardari said under the present circumstances, there would be no cut in the defence expenditure as the country was fighting a war for its survival.
“We cannot afford to cut down allocations for the armed forces,” he said and added that a cut has been placed on other sectors.
Zardari said that the Pakistan government has been urging the international community to give Pakistan and the region a Marshall Plan for rebuilding the economy ravaged by war against terror.