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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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India conveys concern to US over reported arms sales to Pakistan NEW DELHI, (AFP) India has conveyed its concern to the United States over newspaper reports that Washington was planning to sell a range of sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, a foreign ministry spokesman said Friday. India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who is touring the United States, "has conveyed strong concerns over reports of impending arms sales by US to Pakistan," he added. Newspaper reports have said the US was planning to sell up to eight Orion surveillance aircraft, anti-tank missiles and rapid-fire guns to Pakistan, a deal estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars. "US is perceived in India as a strategic partner. In this context, the arms sales will impact the positive sentiments at this significant juncture," the spokesman said. India and Pakistan have initiated a peace process that has helped reduce decades of hostility between the South Asian neighbours, but high-powered arms sales to either side inevitably stokes suspicions. Relations between India and the United States have warmed considerably since the end of the Cold War during which New Delhi leaned more toward Moscow. The two countries have held a range of joint military exercises and expanded civilian space and high technology contacts. |
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