Germany delays submarines sale to Pakistan

[Rage]

Germany delays submarines sale to Pakistan

Germany delays submarines' sale to Pakistan


BERLIN ( 2009-05-17 00:21:55 ) :Germany is to sell main battle tanks to Qatar, ending a long ban on selling heavy weapons to Arabian peninsula nations, the news magazine Der Spiegel said on Saturday. But a sale of stealth submarines to Pakistan was on hold till, after Germany's general election in September, the magazine reported without citing sources.

Under German law, the manufacturers must obtain clearances from Chancellor Angela Merkel's national security council for the sales. The council, an inner cabinet of ministers with security portfolios, issues clearances before contracts are signed. Der Spiegel said that Germany had in the past declined to sell its 'Leopard 2' tanks to Saudi Arabia, so as not to upset Israel.

It said the sale of 36 tanks to tiny Qatar was quietly approved last year with the proviso that Israel must be informed, but the Jewish state apparently did not object. Spiegel said this was presumably because Qatar had little need to use them, since it was not under threat from its land neighbours, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Its 9,000-man army was acquiring the tanks for prestige reasons. Qatar is home to a large US base.

The sale of three sophisticated fuel-cell-powered Type 214 submarines to Pakistan had been approved, and an export credit of 1 billion euros (1.3 billion dollars) had been offered, but no contract has been signed yet, Spiegel said.

It said the sale negotiations were dragging out. With Pakistan, destabilised by Taliban advances, the council had decided to adjourn further deliberation on the potentially controversial sale till after September. The submarines are extremely quiet and can lurk underwater for weeks, giving them the same capability as nuclear-powered submarines.



AAJ TV : Pakistan Ki Awaz

 

[Rage]

Report: Germany sells tanks to Qatar, delays on subs to Pakistan

Posted : Sat, 16 May 2009 11:05:42 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Business
Business News | Home

Berlin - Germany is to sell main battle tanks to Qatar, ending a long ban on selling the heavy weapons to Arabian peninsula nations, the news magazine Der Spiegel said Saturday. But a sale of stealth submarines to Pakistan was on hold till after Germany's general election in September, the magazine reported, without citing sources.

Under German law, the manufacturers must obtain clearances from Chancellor Angela's Merkel's national security council for the sales. The council, an inner cabinet of ministers with security portfolios, issues clearances before contracts are signed.

Der Spiegel said Germany had in the past declined to sell its Leopard 2 tanks to Saudi Arabia so as not to upset Israel.

It said the sale of 36 tanks to tiny Qatar was quietly approved last year with the proviso that Israel must be informed, but the Jewish state apparently did not object.

Spiegel said this was presumably because Qatar had little need to use them, since it was not under threat from its land neighbours, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Its 9,000-man army was acquiring the tanks for prestige reasons. Qatar is home to a large US base.

The sale of three sophisticated fuel-cell-powered Type 214 submarines to Pakistan had been approved, and an export credit of 1 billion euros (1.3 billion dollars) had been offered, but no contract had been signed yet, Spiegel said.

It said the sale negotiations were dragging out. With Pakistan destabilized by Taliban advances, the council had decided to adjourn further deliberation on the potentially controversial sale till after September.

The submarines are extremely quiet and can lurk under water for weeks, giving them the same capability as nuclear-powered submarines.



Report: Germany sells tanks to Qatar, delays on subs to Pakistan : Business

 

[Known_Unknown]

India needs to float a large order of maybe 8 submarines or so, and award that to Germany provided they agree in writing to not sell arms to Pakistan.

 

[MMuthu]

Let them sell.... These 3 submarines won't defeat India...... More over these submarines will be used by Taliban 5-6 years down the line.

 

[Mohan]

Let them sell.... These 3 submarines won't defeat India...... More over these submarines will be used by Taliban 5-6 years down the line.

You should not miss an opurtunity like this to protest and make sure its stopped. Well the technology anything in it will be given a good look by their masters.

 

[MMuthu]

You should not miss an opurtunity like this to protest and make sure its stopped. Well the technology anything in it will be given a good look by their masters.

I Agree, If the germans hear our word then it is well and good... What if they don't hear and sell the Sub to Pak? It will be embarassing to us. Germans are not close friend of India to ask for our advice...... Perhaps we can ask US to persuade Germany and other nations.... that will be more effective.

 

[Mohan]

I Agree, If the germans hear our word then it is well and good... What if they don't hear and sell the Sub to Pak? It will be embarassing to us. Germans are not close friend of India to ask for our advice...... Perhaps we can ask US to persuade Germany and other nations.... that will be more effective.

It should be openly protested and diplomatically whatever steps to be taken should be taken. This is the reason i meant "make sure its stopped ". There is no embarassment in protesting the sale.

 

[Yusuf]

Wonder if India can mount a back door effort to block the sale regardless of our order for our own subs. We should try to block sale of any sophisticated weaponry to Pakistan.

 

[Su-47]

The situation in Pak is getting steadily worse. Their economy is tumbling. so its evident that should this sub be purchased, it will probably be using US aid. We should actually tell USA to monitor its aid funds more carefully. Tell them how Pak is purchasing so much equipment (Spada 2000, JF-17s, U-214s etc) with a military budget as low as theirs (of which a large percentage is supposed to be spent fighting the taliban)

 

[LETHALFORCE]

all the aid will wind up in the governments swiss bank accounts,USA has never asked for transparency on the aid even after tripling it.

 

[Su-47]

all the aid will wind up in the governments swiss bank accounts,USA has never asked for transparency on the aid even after tripling it.

I disagree. MOST of the aid will end up in swiss bank acc. a good percentage of it will end up being used to purchase arms against india and to fund terror attacks.