COLOMBO, Aug 15: A bid to assassinate Pakistan’s envoy to Sri Lanka was triggered by plans for Islamabad to ship new arms to the island to battle Tamil rebels, a government spokesman said on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner (ambassador) Bashir Wali Mohmand narrowly escaped a Claymore mine attack in Colombo on Monday, but four of his Sri Lankan army commando bodyguards and three civilians were killed.

“Tigers have targeted him because of the increased defence cooperation between the two countries,” government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters.

He said there had been newspaper reports that Pakistan was arranging military supplies that could strengthen the Sri Lankan government’s fighting capabilities.

“I can’t say whether the arms list published by the newspapers was true or not, but it was obviously enough to make the Tigers desperate,” he said.

Sources said the shopping list was worth about $150 million.

Sri Lanka had wanted to buy a fleet of battle tanks and heavy guns as well as air defence systems to meet a growing threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

“He (Wali Mohmand) had clearly emerged a target because of news reports that Pakistan was arranging a multi-million dollar arms deal to supply a long list of items to Sri Lanka,” former Sri Lankan diplomat and defence analyst Nanda Godage said. “He was very concerned about his security and he did not feel safe to be at his official residence.”

Official sources said New Delhi had been unhappy with Wali Mohmand’s appointment because of his intelligence background.

The envoy formerly headed Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau.

A visibly shaken Wali Mohmand appeared on Sri Lankan television on Monday.

“We have always supported Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and will continue to do so,” he said.

His car was hit by shrapnel as he returned after an official ceremony to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day.—AFP