Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Do not feel threatened by F-16 planes: Pakistan tells India

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 4, IRNA
Pakistan-Fighters
Pakistan on Monday urged India and Russia not to feel threatened or concerned by Pakistan's acquisition of US-made F-16 fighter planes.

"The F-16 delivery will only improve the conventional balance which is heavily tilted in India's favor," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said at the weekly press briefing.

The United States announced last week to sell the jets to Pakistan and India and Russia reacted to the deal, saying it will endanger India's security and boost the arms race in the region.

"There is absolutely no danger to the dialogue process with the sale of F-16s to Pakistan," he said.

"It is only because of lack of understanding of the dynamics of the dialogue process," the spokesman added.

TK/TSH/2323/2322/1432
::IRNA No.055 04/04/2005 17:40 --End