Madam, - Your Editorial of August 8th, "Getting rid of nuclear weapons", is rather confusing.
It mentions Pakistan along with Germany, Brazil, Japan and India among the group of countries vying for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This is surprising. Pakistan is not among the Group of Four countries which are calling for expansion in the number of permanent seats on the UNSC beyond the current five. Pakistan, together with the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Group, is calling for expansion of the UNSC only in the non-permanent category which does not have the veto power.
This approach is realistic, equitable and fair and calls for broadest possible agreement. Pakistan strongly believes that creating six new permanent members will be contrary to the UN charter's principle of sovereign equality.
The reference to Pakistan's nuclear capability is unfortunate and creates a misleading impression removed from facts.
Pakistan's nuclear capability is defensive and based on minimum credible deterrence. It is committed to the global WMD non-proliferation regime and has lived up to its commitment in this regard.
In our region Pakistan was not the first to introduce nuclear weapons and never misused our civilian nuclear facilities to develop weapons. Pakistan was also not the first to conduct nuclear tests in South Asia.
At present, as a responsible nuclear state, we have instituted both command and control systems as well as strict export controls that testify to our resolve and commitment against WMD proliferation. - Yours, etc,
ZEHRA AKBARI, Counsellor, Embassy of Pakistan, Dublin.