Pakistan Foreign Office Thursday said it considers India's on-going efforts to build ballistic missile system as a destabilizing development.

Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said Pakistan has constantly drawn attention of the Indian Government to the issue through composite dialogue process.

About Pakistan's short range missiles, he said these are meant to address three major concerns emanating from India. These include increasing conventional weapons' asymmetry, India's offensive doctrine and development of ballistic missile system.

Responding to a question at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad, the spokesman said that the development of its nuclear- capable short-range "Nasr" and Cruise missiles by Pakistan should be seen in this context.

"Pakistan's entire nuclear and missile programmes are defensive in nature and we have no aggressive designs. Pakistan wants to have minimum credible deterrence," Chaudhry said.

When his attention was drawn towards a host of anti-Pakistani moves by Kabul, the spokesman said Pakistan has shown maximum restraint as it wants to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, which is also in the interest of the region.

About President Karzai's statement on Durand Line, which divides the two countries in the northwest, the spokesman said this is a settled issue.

"Pakistan considers statement of the Afghan President as a distraction from more pressing of peace and security," the Pakistani spokesman said. Endi

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