Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Pakistan Concerned about Possible Arms Race with India
------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=162F8C6:A6F02AD83191E160DAC97E25D3DFA1779574F7DCC14957C0 Indian defense
officials earlier this week announced country plans to spend $30
billion over next five years to modernize its forces A top Pakistani
diplomat says rival India's spending spree on fighter jets and other
state-of-the-art weaponry could start a regional arms race. VOA's
Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.

Indian defense officials earlier this week announced that the country,
which has the third-largest military in Asia, plans to spend $30
billion over the next five years to modernize its forces. Experts say
that will likely make India the world's largest arms purchaser during
that time period.

Shahid Malik, Pakistan's high commissioner to India, told reporters
late Friday he is concerned about India's plan to purchase 126 new
fighter jets.

"We only hope that this would not lead to any such massive scale of
armaments buying that would lead to an arms race in the region. We are
certainly opposed to that," said Malik.

India plans to reach agreement on the aircraft purchases this year.
The leading candidates are considered to be Russia's MiG-35 and two
U.S.-made fighters, the F-18, manufactured by Boeing, and the F-16,
produced by Lockheed Martin.

Swedish and French companies are also in the competition.

Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to deliver 36 F-16s to
Islamabad as part of Washington's pledge to meet Pakistan's security
needs.

India and Pakistan, both of which have nuclear weapons, have fought
three wars since they gained independence in 1947. Relations have
warmed in recent years, however, and a series of sporadic peace talks
is in progress.


.