Pakistan on Wednesday urged India to avoid disrupting conventional arms balance as it was against the quest for peace and security, being pursued by both the countries. Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan was commenting on news reports of a 230 million US dollars deal for purchase of unmanned aircraft and other intelligence-gathering equipment from Israel.
"Induction of new weapon system and military technology only spurs an arms race in South Asia which we must avoid and avert at all costs," Khan said.
He said Pakistan was against an "open ended arms race," which he added was "not in harmony with the quest for peace and security in the region and beyond."
He said Pakistan and India would soon again discuss nuclear and conventional confidence building measures.
"We should avoid disrupting balance or accentuating asymmetries specially in conventional sphere. A strategic and conventional balance guarantees strategic stability in the region," he added.
Masood Khan said "We must not lose sight of the opportunity costs of such deals for social and economic development."
The Spokesman was responding to reports that the State-owned Israeli Aircraft Industries will supply military surveillance hardware for unmanned aircraft which will be jointly produced in India.
The offer, according to news reports includes supply of 50 Eagle-Heron Israeli drones with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), can stay airborne for more than 24 hours and cruise at an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,575 metres).
A leading Indian newspaper reported the deal besides the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), includes a ground station, communications equipment and intelligence-gathering devices. Israel has emerged as a leading arms supplier to India, and ties between the two countries have warmed considerably over the past five years. In March, Israel agreed to sell three Phalcon airborne early warning systems to India in a dollars 1.1 billion deal.
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