DHAKA, Sept 10: Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri warned on Wednesday that Israel’s sale of weapons to India could disturb the balance of power in South Asia.

Mr Kasuri made the comment here while to invite Bangladesh to a regional summit in Pakistan, as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India with a delegation that included Israeli arms dealers.

“By visits of that nature in which the primary purpose seems to be the sale of ultra-modern and strategic weaponry aimed at disturbing the balance of power in South Asia, ultimately it will be the poor people of South Asia who will pay,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

“To that extent I think it is most unfortunate,” he said.

Mr Kasuri, who arrived here earlier Wednesday, said Islamabad wanted friendly ties with all South Asian countries, including its nuclear rival India, but at the same time was ready to defend itself.

“We do not have any aggressive intention against any country. But we have taken all possible precautions in all fields to defend every inch of our country,” he said.

The minister said Islamabad would not “compete with India in the form of a military race, but we will do all that it takes to maintain a minimum credible deterrent.”

Kasuri was in Dhaka to prepare for a summit next year of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which was delayed due to tensions between India and Pakistan.

The meeting was to be held in January. It has now been rescheduled to January 2004 and India has indicated it will attend, following moves by New Delhi and Islamabad to mend their ties after a year and a half of military tension.

Mr Kasuri on Wednesday formally handed an official invitation to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia .—AFP