Islamabad, Feb 26: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today said that Pakistan did not seek to enter into an arms race, though asserting that it will maintain a ``minimum level of deterrence`` for the country`s security. Addressing military officials at the heavy industries complex at Taxila, 15 kilometres north of Islamabad, where he handed over 80 indigenously modernised and upgraded `Al-Zarar` tanks to the Pakistan army, he said that Pakistan did not want to embroil itself and the country in an arms race, but would strive to safeguard the country`s interests and security. A high mobility all-weather tank with an ``image stabilized fire control system`` and capable of day and night operations, Al-Zarar is an upgraded version of the T-59 tanks of Chinese origin, which were introduced in the Pakistani army in late 1960s.
``The tanks` indigenous adaptation is a cost-effective solution in the country`s military development,`` President Musharraf said.
The plant proposes to manufacture hundreds of Al-Zarar tanks for Pakistan army`s armoured formations, over the next few years, an official release said.
The new tanks were released only days after the army also received the indigenously developed solid fuel short range Hatf-3 missile. The missile has a range of 290 kilometres.
Bureau Report