Our weapons are for defence, not offence: President Alvi.

President Arif Alvi reiterated on Tuesday that Pakistan's 'weapons are for defence, not offence' and added that the nation aspires for peace, and have been striving for it.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of IDEAS International Exhibition 2018, taking place at Karachi from November 27-30, the president said that Pakistan wants regional disputes to be resolved through talks.

'War is not an option,' he maintained adding that even in Kashmir, Pakistan has been looking for peace but India has refused to come to the table.

'India should come to the peace table and avoid excuses,' he added

The president also described how 'the security paradigm is changing,' adding that it has gone beyond defence and now there should be food and economic security as well.

'When the paradigm is not in our favor, we have to assure that nobody turns a bad eye towards us,' President Alvi stated in his address.

President Alvi also lauded the sacrifices of the armed forces on the occasion.

'There has been tremendous damage to our economy. We have withheld our borders very strongly,' President Alvi said, adding that, 'I visited Turkey a few weeks ago. They host refugees. Pakistan has hosted refugees since 1970's, however, the world has forgotten about...