In her weekly news briefing, she said that Pakistan has told the international community that though it adheres to its unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests, if India resumed nuclear tests, Pakistan would review its decision.
She said that Pakistan government is closely following the statements emanating from New Delhi and Washington about India's right to conduct nuclear tests in the context of India-USA nuclear deal. "We take seriously the assertion by Indian leadership about possibility of renewing nuclear tests," she added.
Tasnim said that the statements of Indian leadership should be a source of concern not only for Pakistan but to international community as well, especially when Indian nuclear capability would be augmented by USA-India nuclear agreement, besides India's access to technology and fissile material.
She reiterated that Pakistan does not want a nuclear arms race in the region. "However, we are committed to maintaining a credible minimum deterrence in the interest of strategic balance which is indispensable for peace in region."
About Austria's decision to sell uranium to India, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that it was like USA-India nuclear deal which warranted close attention. "Any development that impinges on the strategic balance in South Asia is a matter of concern to Pakistan."
She said that Pakistan has its energy needs, "and we have future energy procurement plan which includes development of 3 nuclear power plants under international safeguard." She expressed hope that the Nuclear Suppliers Group was sensitive to Pakistan's needs and it would adopt a criteria based approach.
"Pakistan is fully committed to non-proliferation, and we believe that for effectiveness of global non-proliferation regime Pakistan must be viewed as a partner," she emphasised.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS The spokesperson said that during Interior Secretaries level talk in New Delhi last month, the two countries had agreed to release all civilian prisoners who were granted counsel access, whose national status had been confirmed and who had completed their prison sentences by August 14 and 15 so that they could celebrate Independence Day of their respective countries at home with their families.
She said that under this agreement Pakistan expected India to release more than 150 Pakistani civilians as their national status had been confirmed, "and our High Commissioner in Delhi had issued travel documents" to them.
She said that India, on other hand, announced that 24 civilian Pakistani prisoners and 48 fishermen would be released, but subsequently only 22 civilian Pakistani prisoners and 48 fishermen were released on August 14, 2007.
She said that remaining civilian Pakistani prisoners would be released subsequently as they were locked up in far-flung jails. Moreover, she said, "our High Commission had been regularly writing to India requesting information about the number of Pakistani civilians in Indian jails, charges against them and also details of those who had completed their prison sentences."
She regretted that India had not responded to Pakistan's request; therefore, it was not possible to determine how many Pakistanis are in Indian jails, "but we are certain about 150 Pakistanis whose documents have been completed."
PAKISTAN-USA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE She said that the second round of Pakistan-USA strategic dialogue will be held on September 11 and 12 in Islamabad, in which Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte will lead USA delegation.
She said the two sides will review whole range of bilateral relations, co-operation in number of areas, like irrigation, energy, education, science and technology, reconstruction opportunity zones, bilateral trade, political relationship and other matters of mutual interest.
About recent statements of the Democrat and Republican candidates for 2008 US Presidential elections, the spokesperson said "we do not want to be dragged into the US election debates since these are statements by individuals. She said: "We have to look at what officials of the United States have to say. There have been statements and we have responded to them."
PAKISTAN NOT A PARTY TO DESTABLISE IRAN In reply to a question, the spokesperson said that as regards efforts to destabilise Iran , "we have made it clear in the past, and repeat it now, that Pakistan has not, and would not, be a party to any such effort."
She confirmed that the Iranian government had approached Pakistan Embassy in Iran for assistance for the release of its citizen in the border areas recently and Pakistan assured its full co-operation.
She said: "We have several layers of mechanism in place to work with Iranian authorities against all miscreants, drug traffickers, criminals who keep moving along the border.
SECURITY OF FOREIGN NATIONALS The spokesperson said that China has not issued any travel advisory for its nationals with regard to visit to Pakistan, "but we are as much concerned about the security and safety of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan as China could be."
She said: "Our law enforcing authorities are providing security and safety not only to Chinese but all foreign nationals residing in the country. China is a friend and Chinese nationals in Pakistan are making significant contribution to our economic development, and there is no reason that anyone should threaten them and their lives should be in danger in Pakistan."