London: Stating that it was not averse to confidence building measures (CBMs) initiated by India, Pakistan has asserted that if the purpose of such measures were to put the Kashmir dispute on the back burner for ever, then the peace initiative would go nowhere.

"CBMs helped create a conducive atmosphere, but if the purpose of the CBMs between Pakistan and India is to ultimately resolve the core issues leading to peace we welcome them," Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said while addressing the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.

"But if the purpose of these were to put the Kashmir dispute on the back burner for ever, then, the so- called peace initiative would go nowhere, since peace in South Asia is only possible if the aspirations of the people of Kashmir are addressed," he said.

He said Pakistan's nuclear weapons are India-specific. "They are for self-defence."

Accusing India of relentlessly pursuing its ambitious nuclear doctrine of developing 400 land, sea and airborne nuclear weapons including ICBMs, cruise missiles and ABMs, Kasuri said, "Its huge array of conventional weapons are also alarming.

"India's annual military expenditure is about $ 15 billion against Pakistan's $ three billion," he added.

Kasuri said some of the countries which give sermons on restraint do not mind supplying all sorts of state-of-the-art weapons to India in total "indifference" to the regional security dynamics.

Responding to a question, he said Israel was introducing a new weapon systems in the region by providing Phalcon planes to India and Pakistan would respond to it, come what may.

PTI