Friday, February 25 2005 22:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Shrugging off the reported US move to sell Patriot missile defence systems to India, President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan is not "bothered" by this as it has drawn up plans for next 15 years to maintain deterrence and get necessary weapons to match that of its neighbour's.

"We formed our own 15-year development strategy. We will never loose this effect of our strategy of defensive deterrence in the development of armed forces. So we are not bothered. I know in the future we will maintain the strategic deterrence strategy," he said in an interview to Online British Corporation.

Musharraf's remarks contradict Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan's statement earlier this week that Islamabad has "taken up" it concerns about the proposed sale of Patriot defence missile systems to India both with Washington and New Delhi as it would be "counter-productive" and send the region into "crisis mode."

The General said Pakistan has assessed the threat perceptions from "all quarters" for the 15 years and prepared plans accordingly. "We have strategised what we need to get. We will get them."

Asked whether he has nominated an heir or successor if something happens to him due to recent attempts on his life, Musharraf laughed and said, "There is no monarchy going on here. I do not have to nominate an heir. The people and assemblies of Pakistan need to elect or select a person if I am not there."

On resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said, "I am an optimist. Hope there will be breakthrough. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus accord is an indication of a degree of flexibility shown by both sides.

"If this flexibility continues there is no reason why we should not be optimistic towards the solution of the Kashmir dispute."