President General Pervez Musharraf has reiterated that Pakistan will maintain the minimum defensive deterrence both in the conventional and non-conventional areas. The president was presiding over the 58th formation commanders' conference, which concluded here at the General Headquarters on Tuesday. The second day was devoted to briefings and discussions on matters of professional importance. Participants were briefed on the threat spectrum including the "Cold Start Doctrine" propagated last year by India, newly raised South Western Command, Rapid Reaction Forces, Special Forces Command, Indian Force goals and status of their development plans.

Participants dilated upon various implications of the threat and response parameters. Deliberating upon the security situation, participants discussed external and internal factors and showed satisfaction over various steps taken to respond to different scenarios.

While reviewing the ongoing restructuring plan of the army as well as the short-to long-term development plans, participants showed satisfaction that these were proceeding as per envisaged benchmarks.

Indicating that balance of power was the best guarantee of peace, the President said that Pakistan would maintain the minimum defensive deterrence both in the conventional and non-conventional areas.

Participants of the conference also reviewed the army's employment on UN peace keeping missions and noted with great pride that Pakistan at this moment is the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions with around 9,500 troops employed in various parts of the world, mostly in African countries.

Towards the end of the two-day session, participants witnessed a display of indigenously developed defence equipment and vehicles.

While some of the equipment is to add value to the combat equipment already in service in the army, the other is to act as force multiplier.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005