March 4, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 30, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, March 3: The National Assembly was told on Monday that the government had taken up with the United States government the issue of Israel having shown interest in selling Arrow missiles to countries like India and Turkey

“The government is fully aware that Israel has shown interest in selling the missile to countries like India and Turkey,” said Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal in a written reply during the question hour.

He assured the members that the government had taken up the issue with the US government and conveyed the country’s concerns to the US administration, congress and other opinion makers through diplomatic channels.

M.P. Bhandara had asked about the country’s response to the export of the missile to Turkey and India.

The minister said the government was aware of the negative impact of the export on regional security and was taking necessary measures to meet the threat and safeguard the country’s interests.

“We know that Indians are also highly interested to acquire Arrow missile system from Israel,” he said and added that since it was a joint production of Israel and the US, prior clearance of the US government was required before the sale to any third country.

The US state department so far had not granted clearance to the sale due to possible infringement of the provisions of the Missile Technology Control Regime, despite campaigning by pro-India congressmen, he said.

The Arrow “anti-tactical ballistic missile” programme is one of the most advanced missile defence systems. The missile could intercept hostile missiles at such a height that any weapons of mass destruction they carry would not detonate.