Pakistan's weapons ensure deterrence in 'belligerent neighbourhood': Prez Alvi

Alvi said Pakistan wanted "long lasting peace" in the region as he invited India to begin peace talks.

Pakistan's weapons will be "for defence, never for offence", he said without mentioning the country's nuclear capabilities.

Alvi was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 10th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2018 in Karachi.

"When the paradigm is not in our favour, we also have a deterrent to ensure the fact that nobody looks at Pakistan with a bad eye at all," he said.

"We want peace, we have been striving for peace in a belligerent neighbourhood but we must stay strong….Our weapons are for peaceful intent," he said, without naming any country.

He said all issues between Pakistan and India have to be resolved, adding that war is no option.

"We are a peaceful country and we look forward to the resolution of all disputes in a peaceful manner even with India," he said, adding, "I urge India to come to the peace table and discuss issues rather than staying away with different excuses".

"We are there to defend our country and that is what IDEAS is all about," Alvi said.

Over 262 companies from from China, Russia, USA, France, Germany, Turkey, Poland and South Korea have established their pavilions at the exhibition to display their products.

The president said that at one time Pakistan was home to 3.5 million refugees who had been displaced after the Afghan war, but he added that "the world has forgotten about the contribution of Pakistan".

Alvi said Pakistan did not believe in wars because they only resulted in "hunger, lack of nutrition and misery".