ISLAMABAD,5 September 2003 — The Defense Ministry said yesterday it would discuss arms purchases from the United States this month but denied a report that Washington had offered a $9 billion package.
A Defense Ministry statement said the Defense Consultative Group, made up of senior defense officials from the two countries, would meet in Washington this month. “Pakistan will discuss among other things, acquisitions of arms and equipment with the USA in the forthcoming meeting,” it said. “But the purchases will be in accordance with our needs and resources.”
“The reported amount of $9 billion is a huge sum of money which a country like Pakistan with multiple other issues cannot set aside for only defense purchases.”
Monday’s edition of the Pakistani newspaper, The News, quoted unidentified sources as saying the United States had offered to sell arms worth $9 billion.
The ministry statement said Pakistan would never become involved in an arms race in the region and would purchase only those arms necessary to maintain a strategic balance “and which we can afford to buy”.
Yesterday, China, Islamabad’s major source of defense hardware, conducted the first test flight of a fighter jet jointly developed with Pakistan, Chinese state media reported.
The semi-official Chinese News Service said Pakistan would likely be the first customer of the Xiao Long, or Valiant Dragon, FC-1 aircraft which it says rivals the U.S. F-16.
Nuclear rival India is trying to close a deal with Israel worth more than $1 billion for an airborne early warning radar system. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is due in India on Sunday and officials say the two sides could sign the contract for the sale of three Phalcon radar systems during the trip.
India on Wednesday also said it buy Hawk trainer jets from Britain in a $1.7 billion deal.
Pakistan, wary of India’s military edge, has long sought additional F-16 aircraft from the United States. However, President George W. Bush declined a request for the aircraft by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in June.
Washington refused to deliver 28 F-16s to Pakistan in the 1990s because of concerns about the country’s nuclear program.
Both India and Pakistan exploded underground nuclear devices in 1998, declaring themselves nuclear powers.
However, neither country submits to intentional inspections of their nuclear arsenals and it is not known what each country possesses.
The uneasy nature of the relationship between Pakistan and India has worried the international community that an all-out war between the South Asian neighbors could escalate into a nuclear conflict.
President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday taht Pakistan won’t initiate an arms race with India, but ruled out rolling back or freezing the nation’s nuclear weapons program.
“President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to enter into an arms race with anyone, while ensuring consolidation of Pakistan’s minimum deterrence needs,” a statement issued by the military said.
Musharraf made his comments at a meeting Wednesday of the National Command Authority, which is responsible for Pakistan’s nuclear program.
“The program has matured over the years and would continue to receive top national priority,” said the military statement quoting Musharraf.
He said suggestions Pakistan would roll back or freeze its program were “irrelevant, outdated and totally false.”
Rather, Musharraf said Pakistan would go ahead with “qualitative upgrades of the country’s nuclear program (to) fortify national security.”
He didn’t elaborate on the type or magnitude of the upgrades.
