From: Stasi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: The Times: Shiploads of Chinese arms 'sent to Pakistan' HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- The Times WEDNESDAY JANUARY 09 2002 Shiploads of Chinese arms 'sent to Pakistan' FROM ZAHID HUSSAIN IN ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN is said to have obtained a huge supply of arms from China to make up for its military disadvantage as it faces India. It is believed to have received a range of military hardware including dozens of combat jets and an extensive missile system that has improved preparedness for war. After a meeting with President Musharraf yesterday, US senators said that he was close to unveiling a "bold and principled" initiative aimed at averting war over Kashmir. The nine-member delegation also said that America was prepared for a long-term commitment to the region as part of its global anti-terrorism campaign. "I think the speech . . . is going to be critically important," Joe Lieberman, the former vice-presidential candidate, said. "I hope it will lead to a de-escalation of tensions and perhaps even to a new chapter in the relationship between Pakistan and India." A report in the English- language newspaper The News yesterday quoted senior military officials as saying that China had sent five ships loaded with unassembled combat aircraft and a variety of weapons last month, after India's unprecedented military build-up. China has also been sending supplies via the Karakoram highway which links the two countries. According to the report, Islamabad has acquired from China several squadrons of Super 7 and F7 fighter aircraft and spare parts that have strengthened Pakistan's air defence. Before the latest delivery India enjoyed an overwhelming superiority in air power, having 738 combat aircraft to Pakistan's 353. Delhi also has a nearly fivefold advantage in transport aircraft and six times the number of combat helicopters. In addition, India has 37 naval aircraft compared with Pakistan's five. "Pakistan Air Force's combat capability has increased with the addition of several new squadrons of fighter jets," a senior military official was quoted as saying. He said that China had also helped to strengthen the country's missile system. But Aziz Khan, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, denied that arms had been delivered from China. Chinese leaders are said to have promised to rush military supplies to Pakistan during General Musharraf's visit to China at the height of the tension with India on December 21. Pakistani military officials said that the Indian Air Force's aircraft were put on alert for an attack on Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on December 21 and 22. General Musharraf stopped in Beijing on Thursday on the way to Kathmandu to attend the conference of South Asian nations and met Zhu Rongji, the Chinese Prime Minister. A spokesman for the Pakistani Government, Major-General Rashid Qureshi, said later that Chinese leaders had assured Pakistan of their support "in all eventualities". China has been the main supplier of arms to its closest ally for many years after America imposed an embargo on arms sales to Pakistan in 1990. Beijing has also allegedly been co-operating in the development of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme. Pakistan received support from China during its previous two wars with India. Sun Yuxi, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, said in Beijing yesterday that the traditional friendly relations between China and Pakistan were not directed against any third country. He added that Mr Zhu would press New Delhi to open talks with Pakistan over their border dispute on his visit to India this week. The Chinese Prime Minister begins an eight-day state visit to Bangladesh and India on Friday. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
