ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: A foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday said the “Protocol on the Procurement of Military Equipment” recently signed between India and Russia “is bound to further exacerbate the already tense situation in the region.

Responding to queries about the agreement, the spokesman said that the latest protocol envisaged a package of defence sales to India worth $3 billion.

This included nuclear propelled submarines, strategic bombers, joint development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft and the setting up of joint ventures on the pattern of the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile.

“The acquisitions would complete India’s cherished nuclear triad. It would also aggravate the existing imbalance in conventional forces and strategic weapon delivery system in the region,” the spokesman said.

He observed that, fired by its ambition to attain great power status, India had chosen the reckless path of miniaturization. It was amassing weapons and military hardware beyond its legitimate defence requirements to intimidate its neighbours.

“This is an amazing choice for a nation that preaches non-violence and boasts the largest population of poor in the world,” he said. The spokesman added that Pakistan was not interested in entering into an arms race with India. —APP