TORONTO, Nov 13 Pakistan wants Canada to supply border surveillance equipment and explosives detectors to deal with terrorists in the tribal region, Pakistani Consul General Sahebzada A. Khan said here on Thursday.

“If Canada continues its 11-year arms embargo, denying Pakistan some badly needed equipment, the violence is likely to escalate,” he said in an interview with the Toronto Star newspaper.

A US troops 'surge' against the Taliban in Afghanistan, under debate in Washington, could intensify the country's problems.

“We have told Nato and the United States that new boots on Afghan soil will push Al Qaeda into Pakistan,” he said adding “It's a very porous border, and nothing has been done to improve control there.”

He urged Canada to supply technical equipment that would help detect militants and seal the border.

Mr Khan said Pakistan wanted Ottawa to supply non-lethal military equipment, including thermal detectors to catch militants sneaking over the border, explosives detectors, night-vision goggles, sniffer dogs and mine detection gear. “Canadian electronics and military equipment is superior,” he said. “If we don't get it, controlling the border will not be effective.”

The Toronto Star said it's not the first time Pakistan had sought military aid from Ottawa. After it began a massive offensive against the Taliban in its border region last spring, it called for aid including unmanned drone aircraft. Ottawa turned down the requests, citing a 1998 embargo on military exports that began when Pakistan fired its first nuclear tests.