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| 11 November 2004 | Thursday | 27 Ramazan 1425 |
India urged not to disrupt arms balance
ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Pakistan on Wednesday urged India to avoid disrupting conventional arms balance as it was against the quest for peace and security being pursued by both the countries.
Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan was commenting on news reports of a $230 million arms deal between India and Israel, involving purchase of unmanned aircraft and other intelligence-gathering equipment.
"Induction of new weapons system and military technology only spurs an arms race in South Asia, which we must avoid and avert at all costs," Mr Khan said.
He said Pakistan was against an open-ended arms race which, he added, was "not in harmony with the quest for peace and security in the region and beyond".
He said Pakistan and India will soon again discuss nuclear and conventional confidence-building measures. "We should avoid disrupting balance or accentuating asymmetries, especially in conventional sphere. A strategic and conventional balance guarantees strategic stability in the region," he added.
Mr Khan said: "We must not lose sight of the opportunity costs of such deals for social and economic development."
The FO spokesman was responding to reports that the state-owned Israeli Aircraft Industries will supply military surveillance hardware for unmanned aircraft which will be jointly produced in India.
The offer, according to news reports, includes supply of 50 Eagle-Heron Israeli drones with a range of 1,000 kilometres, which can stay airborne for more than 24 hours and cruise at an altitude of 25,000 feet.-APP
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