WASHINGTON: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday Pakistan would be forced to take countermeasures to preserve a credible deterrence given a major arms buildup by neighboring India and its refusal of dialogue.

"While refusing dialogue, India is engaged in a major arms buildup, regrettably with the active assistance of several powers," Sharif said in a speech to the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.

"It has adopted dangerous military doctrines. This will compel Pakistan to take several countermeasures to preserve credible deterrence."