NEW DELHI, India: Pakistan’s assistance to Sikh freedom fighters has taken many forms, ranging from inspirational support to the supply of weapons, according to information available with the Indian government, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Natwar Singh, told the Rajya Sabha.

He told Dr. Ratnakar Pandey and Mr. Mahendra Prasad in a written reply that it was a matter of serious concern to the government and the issue had been taken up with the Pakistan government on several occasions at various levels.

Mr. Natwar Singh said India had been consistently urging the US. Administration to use its influence with Pakistan to deter it from pursuing the nuclear weapons option.

He told Mr. P, Upendra in a written reply that the Indian government was also aware that despiser revelations about the non-peaceful and clandestine aspects of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, it had benefited from a waiver from the U.S. nonproliferation laws for many years.

He said that India’s defence preparedness was continuously reviewed to meet any eventuality or threat to the country’s security.

He informed that Pakistan was receiving some missiles, including. Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, from the US.A. Under supplies contracted in 198586.

He said the government had conveyed to the U.S.A. Administration that the supply of sophisticated arms to Pakistan compelled India to divert scarce resources from development to defence leading to an unnecessary arms race in the subcontinent.

The US. Government had staked that security assistance to Pakistan was a response to a perceived threat from Afghanistan and Pakistan’s modernization of defence needs and was not directed against India although India did not share this assessment, he added.

Pakistan had also been providing US.A. With base facilities at a number of places, particularly along the Makran coast, Peshawar and Karachi.

He told Mr. Mukhtiar Singh Malik in a written reply that both countries had denied the existence of any such bases in Pakistan.

 However, the Indian Government was maintaining constant Vigil on all developments having a bearing on the country’s security, he said.

 

 

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 27, 1987