Military nexus between Pakistan and China is detrimental to strategic balance in South Asia: Antony
NEW DELHI, Nov 27 (APP) India on Friday expressed concern over what it called “military nexus” between Pakistan and China. “The nexus between China and Pakistan in the military sphere remains an area of great concern,” Indian Defence Minister A K Antony said while speaking at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) founders’ day event here.
“We have to carry out continuous
appraisal of Chinese military capabilities and shape our responses
accordingly. At the same time, we need to be vigilant at all times,” he
said. He said India feels Pakistan-China
military nexus is detrimental to its interests and the strategic
balance in the South Asian region. Antony said Beijing is Pakistan’s
largest defence supplier and it had supplied to Pakistan fighter
aircraft, frigates with helicopters, T-85 tanks, jet trainers besides
arms and ammunition. “India wants to develop a friendly
and cordial relationship with its neighbours including China. We
continue our efforts. At the same time, there are issues that are a
matter of concern to us,” Antony said while talking to newsmen after
the function. India needs to closely monitor the
developments in Pakistan, he said adding “the terror infrastructure in
that country remains intact and is actually thriving”. “Pakistan is yet to demonstrate any will to take speedy action against terrorists and international criminals,” he alleged. He claimed India was making
sincere and continuous efforts to resolve long-standing issues with
countries in its immediate neighbourhood. He further said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s willingness toresume dialogue with Pakistan must be seen in the context of India’seagerness for peace in the region. Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram in a news channel interview said international opinion and
its pressure combined with refusal to engage in a dialogue will force
Pakistan to change its attitude towards “terror groups” operating in
Pakistan. “I can’t change Pakistan’s
attitude. I can only hope that international opinion, Indian pressure
and India’s refusal to engage Pakistan in a dialogue, will force
Pakistan to change its attitude,” he said in a CNN-IBN programme. He was of the view that there have
been several attempts by terrorists from “across the border” as well as
modules within India to launch terror attacks like Mumbai attacks but
these have been successfully foiled by the security agencies.
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