US arms to Pak to impact talks: Indian Defence Minister
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 18, IRNA
India-US
Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday said the supply of weapons including F-16 fighter planes, by the U.S. to Pakistan could impact composite dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad.
"At this juncture when a composite dialogue is on, historic bus journey between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar about to begin and voluntary reduction of troops carried out by India in Jammu and Kashmir, supply of lethal arms to Pakistan could have an impact", Mukherjee told the press in New Delhi yesterday.
"We have expressed our concern to the US Secretary of State in this regard during the Indo-US talks yesterday," he said.
On the US offer of sale of F-16s to India, Mukherjee said the acquisition of these multi-role fighters had figured in the talks. But the proposal is at an early stage, he added.
The US side is yet to respond to Indian request for information on sales, he said on the sidelines of a function to flag off a Nehru Mountaineering expedition to 8,012 meters peak Mt Shisha Pangma in Central Tibet.
On whether the proposal to acquire six scorpene Hunter-Killer class submarines would be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, the Defence Minister said as and when a decision was taken, it would be made known.
The Times of India reported today, despite the talks over the sale of F-16 jets to India, the Indian Air Force is not keen on purchasing these fighters as they would require the establishment of a different set up to maintain these planes.
India has traditionally depended on French and Russian frontline fighters and its airforce infrastructure is best suited for such fighters.
F-16s would demand certain changes in the infrastructures in the Indian Air Force that it is not willing to undertake.
2160/1405/1771
::IRNA No.039 19/03/2005 19:15 --End
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