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India won't cut military spending

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Nov 14, IRNA
Pakistan-India
India, the largest arms purchaser among emerging nations, said on Monday it will not prune its military spending due to the growing threat from terrorism and regional tensions.

According to Dawn newspaper, "India annually spends 14 billion dollars, or 2.34 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), on its military.

Since 2004 it has either used or committed billions of dollars in modernization projects planned until 2010.

It is a harsh reality that defence expenditure involves huge outlays on acquisitions, Foreign Ministry Pranab Mukherjee told visiting defence officials from 40 countries including Britain, China, Germany and the United States.

There is no denying the fact that the challenge of modern warfare with the likely nuclear, biological and chemical dimensions cannot be met with outdated technologies, he said.

These considerations assume greater significance because of unfathomable dangers arising from proliferation of nuclear technologies over the years and the capability acquired by international terrorist organizations.

And, therefore, there is no escape from modernization of the country's defence forces, said Mukherjee, who until last month held the defence portfolio.

His thinly-veiled warning to Pakistan came on the eve of the resumption of peace talks with India's nuclear-capable neighbor.

Talks had been on hold following the July train bombings in Mumbai which left 186 people killed and 800 injured.

India has in the past two years spent 7.0 billion dollars on military acquisitions including 1.43 billion dollars on 26 British trainer jets, 1.2 billion dollars on six French submarines and 1.5 dollars on a Russian aircraft carrier.

Its immediate shopping list includes 126 fighter jets worth 6.5 billion dollars, artillery worth 1.5 billion dollars as well as plans to construct an air defence ship worth 2.2 billion dollars, according to available estimates.

2024/235/2321/1414