Islamabad, July 27 - Pakistan Monday called the launching of India's first nuclear-powered submarine a 'destabilising step' that could trigger an arms race in the region, a media report said.

The induction of INS Arihant is 'a destabilising step which will jeopardise the security paradigm of the entire Indian Ocean region', Pakistani Navy spokesman Captain Asif Majeed Butt was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

'It could trigger a nuclear arms race and all littoral states, including Pakistan, will take safeguarding steps,' he said.

On Sunday, India launched its first indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine, built under the Advanced Technology Vessel project with Russian help, becoming the sixth country after the US, Russia, China, France and Britain to possess a nuclear-powered submarine.

IANS Arihant is a 6,000-tonne, 110-metre long and 11-metre wide submarine that can carry nearly 100 sailors, and is capable of firing missiles and torpedoes at a range of 700 km.

India already has fighter aircraft and missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The submarine completes a nuclear triad encompassing land, air and sea.