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Jamali reacts sharply to Phalcon deal

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD OCT. 11. In a sharp reaction to India inking a deal with Israel and Russia to buy strategic airborne radar systems, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, has said that the country's armed forces were prepared to face any eventuality.

Addressing the passing out parade of the 108th Long Course at the Kakul Military Academy this morning, Mr. Jamali did not take the name of India but said: "Our neighbouring country is entering into all kinds of defence pacts. From this platform, let me declare categorically that Pakistan's armed forces are prepared to face any eventuality."

The deal has caused a media sensation in Pakistan. Strategic and defence experts have been quoted as saying that the acquisition of Phalcon radars would tilt the conventional balance in favour of India.

In the last few weeks, the growing imbalance in South Asia as a result of the "arms acquisition spree'' of India has been the constant theme in every forum. This was one of the main complaints made by the Pakistan President,

The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, told a press conference that Pakistan would not beg India for talks if it did not want a dialogue.

The comments by the Minister on talks reflect an assessment that with the announcement of election schedule for the five States, India had gone into election mode. Once the Assembly elections were over, the parties would start preparing for the general elections due in September.

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