Iran plans increase in arms purchases from Pakistan

KARACHI — Iran plans to increase purchases of military systems from Pakistan.

Pakistani officials said the two countries are negotiating for a sale of additional Pakistani weapons to Teheran. The officials would not elaborate.

The officials said Pakistan has sold weapons and defense systems to 14 countries, including Britain, Canada, Iran and the United States.

Moreover, the officials said, Iran is one of several countries negotiating with Islamabad for additional purchases. They said other countries are Britain, Bangladesh, Holland and the United States.

Pakistan is holding an international defense exhibition in Karachi and officials are promoting their nation's new fighter aircraft and missiles. The officials said Arab countries have expressed interest in such systems but said Islamabad would not sell its intermediate-range missiles.

Islamabad is believed to receive much of its technology and weapons help from China. On Thursday, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin discussed limiting Beijing's missile exports.

"There was some progress made but I'm not going to detail it," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth said. "We'll have more to say in the days to come."