Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir says Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and will continue with its policy of full spectrum deterrence in line with the policy of credible minimum deterrence and avoidance of an arms race.

Giving his policy statement in the National Assembly, he said the government is vigorously committed to confront the growing challenges to Pakistan's security and towards maintaining strategic stability in the region.

He said that the hostile stance taken by India has reduced any advocacy of peace in the region.

He said India has been involved in mass ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and during the last year it committed over one thousand three hundred ceasefire violations resulting in fifty-two deaths and leaving one hundred seventy-five injured.

The Minister said that Pakistan has suffered a loss of billions of dollars and rendered sacrifices of human lives in the war against terrorism.