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Pakistan Concern Over U.S.-India Arms Deal
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Indian
Army Chief, left, with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Richard Meyers in New Delhi
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Report
by IOL Correspondent
ISLAMABAD,
Feb. 19 (IslamOnline) Expressing alarm at the India's "relentless pursuit to acquire"
foreign defense equipment "far beyond its genuine
needs",
Pakistan Monday said it would open an arms race in South Asia and raise military
tensions in the already volatile region.
The
foreign office spokesman stated this in reply to a question about India's
efforts to acquire more sophisticated weaponry from the United Sates and the
current
visit to New Delhi of the head of U.S. Armed Forces, Gen Richard Myers. On his
arrival, Myers, spoke of warming military ties between the two countries to
fight against global terrorism.
Indian
Defense Minister George Fernandes, said last week: "We are looking at
acquiring more sophisticated weaponry from the U.S. which other nations are not
in a position to produce and deliver at short notice".
Spokesman
Aziz Ahmad Khan said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had raised the security
issues concerning South Asia with the U.S. leadership during
his
last week's talks in Washington.
He
said India had started unnecessarily an arms race and tension in the region,
particularly at a time when both countries should put all their resources to
alleviate
poverty and to improve conditions of health and education, and to develop
projects rather than arms race.
Regarding
the outcome of the President's recent Washington visit, the spokesman recalled
that Gen Musharraf had himself indicated its success. He said
Washington
and Islamabad had agreed to revive the joint consultative group where Pakistan's
defense requirements would be considered.
Answering
another question, the spokesman said that unfortunately there was no reduction
in tension on borders, and added that only when the Indian government agreed to
a phased withdrawal of forces from the border and Pakistan followed likewise,
one could expect lowering of tension. He pointed out that Pakistan had to deploy
its forces only in response to India's massive deployment of its troops.
He
regretted that India had not positively responded to Pakistan's repeated calls
for the troop withdrawal and resumption of dialogue to resolve the contentious
issues.
He, however, hoped that New Delhi would agree to resume negotiations.
The
spokesman said that Islamabad had already approached Kabul for the resumption of
regular PIA flights between the two countries which had remained
suspended for 21
years.
He
hoped that the interim Afghan government would take a similar decision in
operation of its national airlines, Ariana.
The
investigation into the U.S. journalist's kidnapping case is continuing with the
same intensity and vigor, the spokesman said.
In
reply to a question, he said that Ahmed Omar Saeed Shaikh has been apprehended
for certain reasons and his extradition to any country was not in question.
He
described as fictitious news reports carried by Indian newspapers about Omar
Shaikh's involvement in acts of terrorism in India, including attack on
parliament and
shooting in Kolkata.
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