Pakistan and U.S. to Strike Major Arms-for-soldiers Deal

[Dover]

Pakistan and USA To Strike Major Deal

09/01/2003 17:21

The USA stopped delivering arms to Pakistan in 1990

The event, which is going to affect the political situation in South and Central Asia, is apparently going to happen soon. For the first time in 13 years, a large transaction between the USA and Pakistan is likely to take place. Islamabad is asking for defense technology from Washington. The contract is evaluated in nine billion dollars. The transaction is very impressive indeed. However, the USA stopped arms deliveries to Pakistan in 1990 because of concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.

RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Pakistani newspaper The News, Islamabad had already made up the list of the defense technology, equipment and spare parts to purchase. A military delegation chaired by Defence Secretary Lt Gen Hamid Nawaz is to arrive to Washington next week to discuss the issue. Within the scope of the visit, Nawaz will visit the Pentagon and meet US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

According to The News, Pakistani officials will ask the US administration to sell up to 40 F-16 pursuit planes to Islamabad, as well as spare parts for Pakistani planes. The defense technology list includes missiles, radars, night vision devices and other military equipment. The two sides will discuss the program to train Pakistani officers at American military schools, the plans to conduct joint military exercises.

Supposedly, the delegations will pay special attention to the issue of further anti-terrorist cooperation.

..snip..

The explanation is very simple - Iraq. The American administration has been offering Pakistan to send their military men to Iraq for months. Islamabad has not expressed any enthusiasm on the issue yet. If the question with arms deliveries is finally settled, one will not have to wait long for Pakistani soldiers to appear in Iraq.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/366/10809_pakistan.html

[ixion]

1. so, once again the US is playing two sides

and essentially adding fuel to the fire. Striking deals with both India and Pakistan, who just happen to be playing a game of brinksmanship. For some reason, though, the total hypocrisy of this is lost on the US mainstream media.

*sigh*

[Brucey]

2. War profiteering and bribery

are two issues the chimp specializes in.

[Sinistrous]

4. Amen.

The * MO, in spades: bribery in lieu of diplomacy. I wonder if this will be as "successful" as *'s bribery of Turkey before the invasion of Iraq.

[rjbcar27]

3. India will be happy about this.

NOT!

[LeftistGorilla]

6. Pakistani people will like this....

well....
NOT...

[mike_c]

5. talk about dealing with the devil....

Pakistan is one of the top exporters of anti-Americanism. Arming them further will only increase tensions in Asia.