bhramos
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NEW DELHI: France has assured India it has for now put on hold supply of "heavy" military hardware to Pakistan, in the backdrop of concerns over the huge amounts of arms Pakistan is getting from the West in the name of the so-called global war on terrorism.
France also made it clear that Pakistan needs to explain the questions which have arisen from Osama bin Laden's killing in the garrison town of Abbottabad, where he had been living for long under the very nose of the Pakistan Army.
This came after visiting French defence minister Gerard Longuet held talks with his Indian counterpart A K Antony, who has time and again expressed the worry that a major part of the military aid Pakistan is getting from the US and other countries is being diverted to bolster its military capabilities against India.
Longuet, on his part, said, "I can tell you that the military equipment which France is selling to Pakistan is only for interception and electronic purposes to fight terrorists...We have discouraged sale of heavy equipment, especially naval equipment."
France, however, has supplied several major weapon systems to Pakistan, including the Agosta-90B submarines, in the past. Side-stepping questions on whether France was now reviewing this policy, Longuet said, "We are awaiting certain clarifications from Pakistan."
"After the death of Osama, Pakistan should be given an opportunity to explain its position vis-a-vis terrorism," he said, adding that "terror cannot be a weapon of anybody or any government" on being asked about reports detailing ISI's role in the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai.
Underlining that India was "a strategic partner" of France, Longuet said the armies of the two countries would soon hold a joint combat exercise called "Shakti". The two navies and air forces already conduct the 'Varuna' and 'Garuda' series of exercises relatively regularly.
As reported earlier, after the ongoing Rs 23,562-crore Scorpene submarine project underway at Mazagon Docks, France is eyeing two other major Indian defence projects. While the first is the almost-finalised Rs 11,000-crore upgrade of the 52 Mirage-2000 multi-role fighters in IAF's combat fleet, the other is the Rs 42,000-crore project to supply 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).
With the American F/A-18 'Super Hornet' and F-16 'Super Viper', Swedish Gripen (Saab), and Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation) ejected out of the MMRCA race, the only contenders left in the fray now are the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
"The US might be sad (about its jets being eliminated) but with 50% of the world's arms market, they no doubt have other satisfactions...We have full confidence in Indian procedures," said Longuet.
Supply of 'heavy' arms to Pak put on hold, France tells India - The Times of India
another move by France to Please India in order to sell Rafale Jet fighter to India......
France also made it clear that Pakistan needs to explain the questions which have arisen from Osama bin Laden's killing in the garrison town of Abbottabad, where he had been living for long under the very nose of the Pakistan Army.
This came after visiting French defence minister Gerard Longuet held talks with his Indian counterpart A K Antony, who has time and again expressed the worry that a major part of the military aid Pakistan is getting from the US and other countries is being diverted to bolster its military capabilities against India.
Longuet, on his part, said, "I can tell you that the military equipment which France is selling to Pakistan is only for interception and electronic purposes to fight terrorists...We have discouraged sale of heavy equipment, especially naval equipment."
France, however, has supplied several major weapon systems to Pakistan, including the Agosta-90B submarines, in the past. Side-stepping questions on whether France was now reviewing this policy, Longuet said, "We are awaiting certain clarifications from Pakistan."
"After the death of Osama, Pakistan should be given an opportunity to explain its position vis-a-vis terrorism," he said, adding that "terror cannot be a weapon of anybody or any government" on being asked about reports detailing ISI's role in the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai.
Underlining that India was "a strategic partner" of France, Longuet said the armies of the two countries would soon hold a joint combat exercise called "Shakti". The two navies and air forces already conduct the 'Varuna' and 'Garuda' series of exercises relatively regularly.
As reported earlier, after the ongoing Rs 23,562-crore Scorpene submarine project underway at Mazagon Docks, France is eyeing two other major Indian defence projects. While the first is the almost-finalised Rs 11,000-crore upgrade of the 52 Mirage-2000 multi-role fighters in IAF's combat fleet, the other is the Rs 42,000-crore project to supply 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).
With the American F/A-18 'Super Hornet' and F-16 'Super Viper', Swedish Gripen (Saab), and Russian MiG-35 (United Aircraft Corporation) ejected out of the MMRCA race, the only contenders left in the fray now are the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
"The US might be sad (about its jets being eliminated) but with 50% of the world's arms market, they no doubt have other satisfactions...We have full confidence in Indian procedures," said Longuet.
Supply of 'heavy' arms to Pak put on hold, France tells India - The Times of India
another move by France to Please India in order to sell Rafale Jet fighter to India......
