Islamabad: Pakistan would take all possible steps to maintain minimum credible deterrence which had been quantified in terms of comparative strength, weaponry and force levels, said President Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on August 16.

The duo said this while on a visit to the Air Headquarters, Chaklala, where they were briefed on operational preparedness, engineering aspects and JF-17 Thunder (Super 7) aircraft project, a report in 'The News' said.

They said that though Pakistan was not involved in any arms race, but would take all possible steps to maintain minimum credible deterrence.

Stating that they were aware of the importance of air power as a vital component of the country's armed forces, they welcomed the measures that were being taken for self-reliance and the indigenous development of Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) assets.

Air Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations), Air Vice Marshal Iftikhar Gul, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Engineering) and Air Vice Marshal Shahid Lateef, briefed the President and Prime Minister on different aspects of the project.

ANI