Stay away from S Asia: Pakistan to Israel

Rediff.com ^ | Feb.14, 2002 | PTI

[USMMA_83]

Stay away from S Asia: Pakistan to Israel

Apparently perturbed by increasing Indo-Israeli defence cooperation and a possible sale of Phalcon spy plane to New Delhi, Pakistan has asked the Jewish state not to get involved in South Asia.

Senior Pakistani officials conveyed this message to a high-ranking Israeli official in Paris last week, Hebrew daily MaFariv reported.

"Don't become involved in our region so that we are not dragged into doing something similar in your region," the paper quoted officials as saying.

Israeli defence sources said security cooperation between New Delhi and Tel Aviv was not targeted at any country. Allaying fears that the sale of Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems could disturb the military balance in South Asia, the sources said: "At the end of the day it's a defence system which cannot change the balance in the region."

Defence partnerships between New Delhi and Tel Aviv has raised concern among few Arab countries in the past.

During an international conference on missiles in Paris last week, a Pakistani official expressed similar concern about possible Israeli sales of AWACS and Arrow anti-ballistic missile defence systems to India.

"We are deeply concerned that there are sales of anti-ballistic missile defence systems and advanced airborne early warning abilities, which ignore the need of stability in our region," he said.

Earlier, Israel made it clear that there was no pressure from the United States against the Phalcon sale and that it was up to New Delhi to decide on the spy plane deal.

Israel wants to sell three Phalcons to the Indian Air Force and the two sides have been negotiating the estimated $1 billion deal for quite some time now. The radar systems of the Phalcons will extend the IAF's range of operation and will give India control and monitoring capabilities from the sky.

Israel has become India's second largest arms supplier after Russia, which include sea-to-sea missiles, surveillance systems, upgradation of India's Soviet-era tanks and aircraft, border monitoring equipment, night vision devices and intelligence cooperation.

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[USMMA_83]

I'm sure Sharon is quaking in his boots...not!

[Fabozz]

"'Don't become involved in our region so that we are not dragged into doing something similar in your region,' the paper quoted officials as saying."

Hmm, I wonder what "something similar" this guy could be talking about. I guess he's threatening to sell the PLO AWACS planes and ABM systems, right? Surely, surely he couldn't possibly be talking about anything like allowing his country's intelligence agency to sponsor terrorist acts—as we all know, because Musharraf told us so, Pakistan just doesn't do that sort of thing.

[zarf]

I think an alliance between Hindus and Jews against the Muslims would be appropriate. They've both suffered much at the hands of the followers of Muhammed.

[mikeIII]

Surely, surely he couldn't possibly be talking about anything like allowing his country's intelligence agency to sponsor terrorist acts—as we all know, because Musharraf told us so, Pakistan just doesn't do that sort of thing.

Of course not! It's just our suspicious mind that makes this seem like a carefully-worded, thinly-veiled a terror threat.

[gridlock]

The Phalcon system will be a natural adjuct to the Arrow ABM system. You can't really have ABM without early warning capabilities.

Sounds like India is trying to do Star-Wars-on-the-Cheap. After they work out all the kinks, do you think the Democrats in Congress will let us buy it from them?

I think India is on the right track, stressing defense before deterrence. MAD does not work with madmen.

[angkor]

MAD does not work with madmen.

The Pakistan/India dustups of several weeks ago make it clear that deterrence is not a factor in the strategic thinking of either party.

[ScreamingFist]

"After they work out all the kinks, do you think the Democrats in Congress will let us buy it from them?"

Let's just use our own, American made hardware, thank you very much.

[sheik yerbouty]

He should tell the Paki buggers to pi$s off!

[crystalk]

Pakistan, founded in 1947, is a failure as a country, despite a whole world trying to help it.

Israel, founded in 1948, is a success despite being despised by all.

Surely Pakistan ought to keep its advice to itself, and try to put its own house in order.

[koba]

A major reason for Israel's success is that the U.S. gives it $5 billion a year. Without this money, Israel would have problems. Inflation there can go as high as 50% a year. Israel is like a child with a rich father that keeps giving him money. Is the child actally "successful" or is he successful because daady made him so? Pakistan receives far less aid than Israel. Pakistan is an unsuccessful country by any standards, but how successful would Israel be if it had to militarily and econmically fend for itself?

[altayann]

(Encl.: photos/body count from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden and Afghanistan.)

Are you insane? Really, are you in complete denial of reality?

You do not, EVER, treat a country that has over 3 dozen armed nuclear weapons as just some bunch of nobodies that you can just push around. The stakes are just far too high to enjoy that little luxury.

Yeah, I'm sure some people would enjoy watching Islamabad, Baghdad or Beirut getting nuked, but I doubt many would enjoy seeing the same thing happen to Tel Aviv, New York or New Delhi.

This isn't a game. And pretending that it is isn't going to do anyone any favors. No matter how thrilling it would be to dismiss the Islamic world, we just cannot afford to do it.

At least not while part of it has nuclear weapons. And if you can come up with a way of destroying those nukes without giving the other side a chance to use them, I suggest you come up with it real soon.

We might need it.

[RaceBannon]

Well, when everyone tries to beat up your child, steals his stuff, burns down his buildings, kills his children and then blames him for it, lobs missiles into his houses, uses rifles to shoot into his childrens weddings, bombs his childrens school buses...yeah, 5 Billion aint enough, is it?

[koba]

That wasn't the issue. The issue was is Israel actually a "successful" nation or is "successful" because America makes it "successful". Whether America is "right" in giving aid to Israel is another issue.

[Malcolm]

A major reason for Israel's success is that the U.S. gives it $5 billion a year. Without this money, Israel would have problems. Inflation there can go as high as 50% a year. Israel is like a child with a rich father that keeps giving him money. Is the child actally "successful" or is he successful because daady made him so? Pakistan receives far less aid than Israel. Pakistan is an unsuccessful country by any standards, but how successful would Israel be if it had to militarily and econmically fend for itself?

I wouldn't want any of that money to stop for anything, esp after the Muslim attacks on the US and Israel. It's money well spent, if for nothing else, for spite.....

[Aaron_A]

We have poured billions into Pakistan as well...most of it has ended up in Swiss bank accounts or in their madrassah network.