LONDON: The United States has asked Pakistani military authorities to send another 3,000 troops and an armoured brigade to join the multi-national force in the gulf, according to western media reports from Lahore.
The delay in their deployment is relatred to the costs and to the weaponry which Pakistan wants Saudi Arabia to provide, “the Independent” reported Wednesday.
It said despite a severe strain in US-Pak relations over Islamabad’s nuclear programme, Washington was backing Pakistani efforts to obtain support from the organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for a greater military role in the gulf.
Senior Pakistani officials said the US defence department had also been negotiating directly with the Pakistani army for further maintenance technicians for armoured vehicles in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has already sent 2,000 troops to Saudi Arabia as part of the Islamic force.
On October 1, the US suspended proposed US dollar 574.4 million military and economic and package for 1991 because President Bush failed to certify, as required by US law, that Pakistan does not possess a nuclear device. This includes US dollar 250 million for military purchases, including 11 F-16 fighters.
According to the latest issue of “Jane’s Defence Weekly,” the Bush administration is reluctant to confirm that Pakistan has assembled a nuclear device because it fears it could fuel a new nuclear race with India.
Pakistan is assisting Saudi Arabia in the Gulf conflict. Administration officials are seeking to forestall any penalties against Pakistan pending the country’s October 24 elections, the defence weekly said.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 26, 1990
