WASHINGTON, Sept 19: The United States has agreed to consider Pakistan’s request to maintain the conventional balance of power in South Asia, says a joint statement issued on Friday.
Pakistan believes that India’s recent military purchases, particularly the acquisition of an early warning system from Israel, has disturbed the conventional balance and has requested the US to help it restore, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan told Dawn.
“Washington is particularly interested in Islamabad’s request to maintain its conventional capabilities and enhance its counter-terrorism capabilities,” said the joint statement issued after a two-day meeting of the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group.
Referring to Pakistan’s request for military equipment and deliveries, the statement said the US affirmed its “commitment to expedite security assistance obligations to Pakistan.”
The two delegations also exchanged views on Iraq in the perspective of the US request for Pakistani troops to help stabilize the security situation in that country.
The delegations conducted initial discussion on the military sales component of the $3 billion assistance programme for Pakistan announced by Presidents Bush and Musharraf at Camp David in June 2003. The delegations also discussed Pakistan’s interest in increased funding for the annual Foreign Military Finance Programme.
The US has agreed to identify ways to streamline procedures for meeting Pakistan’s request for defence supplies, the statement said.
The Security Assistance Working Group, which is a sub-group of the DCG, discussed issues relating to US military equipment under the Foreign Military Financing programme, including: (a) weapons systems and related support; (b) repair/upgrade of existing systems; (c) licenses for the import of spares and (d) the resolution of other outstanding issues.
The security assistance group also reviewed defensive systems to improve Pakistan’s conventional capabilities, Pakistani equipment priorities, and measures and conditions for a long- term, sustainable defence cooperation relationship.
The United States confirmed its commitment to resolve security assistance issues expeditiously, and to provide information to Pakistan on the availability of new weapons and systems as soon as possible, said the joint statement.
Ensuring inter-operability of weapons systems, tactics, techniques, and procedures between the two militaries remains a high priority, it added.
The Military Cooperative Consultations group, another sub- group of the DCG, agreed to a schedule of military-to-military exercises and training activities for 2003 and 2004. The United States also decided to help Islamabad dispose off obsolete US- origin equipment in storage in Pakistan. The DCG concluded its two-day formal meeting in Washington on Thursday.
The two sides also held separate bilateral meetings during the four-day stay of the 14-member Pakistani delegation in Washington. During two days of formal talks the DCG reviewed the progress of defence cooperation between the two countries, and identified and planned activities for the future: After the meeting, the two sides described the Pakistan-US defence relationship as a critical element of the Global War on Terrorism, and key to the security and stability of South Asia.
This week’s meetings of the DCG, was the 15th in the series and the first in Washington DC, in nearly six years.
The DCG also had a joint meeting with the US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, who discussed U.S.-Pakistan defence cooperation, Afghanistan, and Iraq with the two teams.
Later, the two sides agreed to institute formal security assistance reviews on semi-annual basis.
