By IRNA,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said under the present circumstances, there would be no cut on the defence expenditure as Pakistan is fighting a war for its survival.
“We cannot afford to cut down allocations for the armed forces,” Zardari told the National Defence University (NDU), adding that a cut has been placed on other sectors.”
The President called for building up capability of the defence forces of the country to meet any eventuality.
He said Pakistan desired peaceful co-existence with all its neighbours and added the
country and the nation will remain vigilant and prepared for any eventuality.
“War is not part of a democratic mindset,” the President said.
He said the best scenario for terrorists was to be able to operate freely in a “no-state” environment; where their structure overpowers the state structure. However, he said that “we should not allow a few to take us to a war, or make us hostage to implement their agendas.”
President Zardari said his government has come up with a doctrine where it has engaged everyone and the focus is on the policy of reconciliation and tolerance. He said that security and defence also depended on a sound economic base and Pakistan was taking all measures to put its economy back on track.
He said that Pakistan government has been urging the international community to give Pakistan and the region a Marshal Plan for rebuilding the economy ravaged by war against terror.
He said the country’s growth rate was still around 4 per cent and he desired it to rise rapidly so that the government could provide for the have-nots.