ISLAMABAD: Experts believe that Pakistan would have to improve the presentation of its case for resumption of dialogue with India.

They were speaking at a seminar organised by Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) on Wednesday on `Nuclear Doctrine and Strategy: Implications of Strategic Stability in South Asia`.

The seminar was held to discuss the strategic environment in the region and the developments that could potentially undermine deterrence equilibrium and strategic stability.

Executive Director British American Security Information Council Paul Ingram suggested that Pakistan needed to underscore the necessity of dialogue to India by telling Indian leaders that their own national security depended on positive and constructive relations with it.

He said that if India still did come around, then Pakistan could reach out to bigger and stronger states telling them how the dialogue served their and theworld`s interest.

`That would take you from being a complainant to appealing to states to act in a responsible way because that was in their interest and not just in Pakistan`s interest,` he said.

Mr Ingram also emphasized on the responsibilities of nuclear weapon states in terms of working for risk reduction, declaratory policy and assurances, and developing wider nuclear posture with a view to reducing salience of nuclear weapons and strengthening strategic stability, engagement with the public, and commitment to nuclear diplomacy and disarmament.

Former International Atomic Energy Agency official Dr Tariq Rauf said `banging at the door and asking India for dialogue would not work`. India, he said, sees no incentive in talking to Pakistan and the situation is not going to change unless Pakistan finds other more compelling ways to engage with India.

He said Pakistan would have to deal with this problem, which puts Pakistan at disadvantage on the world stage, where very few are ready to come to its stage.The think tank at the conclusion of the seminar underscored the importance of strong economy and political harmony for impregnable national defense.

SVI President Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema in his concluding remarks said a strong economy was needed for maintenance of stable deterrence. Without a sound economy, he feared Pakistan would be at a disadvantage in keeping stable deterrence with India.

Dr Tughral Yamin, associate dean Center for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) at NUST, speaking on this occasion said political stability and financial health had a strong bearing on strategic stability.

Dr Zafar Khan, assistant professor at National Defense University`s Strategic Studies Department, underlined the importance of deterrence stability between nuclear weapon states and said that Strategic Restraint Regime was in the interest of both sides.

`Pakistan will consistently produce effective countermeasures and plug deterrence gaps where absolutely necessary in order to create mutual vulnerabilities,` he maintained.