Pakistan PM's adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz blames India for nuclearisation of Indian Ocean

New Delhi: Pakistan would go all out to contain grave threats to peace and security in the Indian Ocean primarily due to nuclearisation started by India, said Sartaj Aziz, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 's adviser on foreign affairs, on Sunday.

Speaking at the International Maritime Conference in Karachi, Aziz said nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean had destabilised the region and the threats were likely to intensify in future.

He listed militarisation, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, increased missile capabilities and power projection by foreign militaries as the main challenges to peace in the ocean."We are aware of our national interests and every effort will be made to strengthen our capacity to ensure that we remain ready to meet the emerging maritime security challenges. For us, to remain oblivious of the developments taking place in the Indian Ocean region is not an option," he said.

To add to this complex scenario Aziz said, the Indian Ocean faced many non-traditional security challenges and threats, including piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug smuggling, trafficking of weapons, pollution and climate change.Aziz said it was in Pakistan's interest that the region remained peaceful, as 95% of its trade took place through sea and it had a coastline over 1,000km long and an exclusive economic zone of around 300,000 sq km around Karachi and Gwadar ports.

He said the Indian navy's expansion was a cause for concern. "Pakistan has a strategic stake in the peaceful navigation and security of the Indian Ocean region."