ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: Pakistan on Saturday rejected Indian objections to a proposed 1.3 billion dollar US arms sale to Islamabad, saying its "modest" defence requirements should not irk New Delhi.
"Indian comments were unwarranted," a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.
An Indian foreign ministry spokesman on Friday said New Delhi had conveyed its concern to Washington over US plans to sell a range of sophisticated weapons to Pakistan.
"It is incomprehensible that India, which has a massive weaponization and weapon acquisition programme, should object to Pakistan's modest defence requirements," the Pakistani spokesman said.
"Pakistan is ready to engage India purposefully on question of strategic and conventional restraint.
"We have made proposals for establishing a stability and strategic restraint regime in South Asia," he said.
Washington has notified Congress of a possible 1.3 billion dollar arms package for Pakistan, including eight P-3C Orion planes to beef up surveillance of its coasts and borders to stop the movement of terrorists and drug smugglers, US defence officials said Thursday.
It would be the largest US foreign military sale to Pakistan since sanctions against Islamabad were lifted in late 2001 as a reward for supporting US forces fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Besides the Orion surveillance planes, Pakistan also has requested 2,000 TOW-2A anti-armour guided missiles and six Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems for its warships.
The Pentagon can conclude negotiations with Pakistan on the proposed sale unless Congress acts to stop it within 30 days.-AFP
