Pakistan seeks R&D deal with Gulf states
By Steve Rodan, Middle East Newsline
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
ABU DHABI Ñ Pakistan seeks to wed its weapons
expertise with Arab oil revenues to create a joint
defense research and development program.
Pakistani officials said the proposal was raised
during the tour of Pakistani military ruler Pervez
Musharraf last month to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf
countries. They said the Gulf has been targeted as a
priority for the government in Islamabad as well as
with Pakistani defense contractors.
"We can offer good weapons and low prices," Pakistani
Gen. Zhid Anis said. "We are not bad in technology
although we are not the top of the line."
Anis said Pakistan seeks Gulf oil revenues to finance
joint R&D programs with such prospective Arab clients
as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Islamabad and Riyad are said to have close defense and
military relations.
"We would certainly like to do that [joint R&D]," Anis
said in an interview. "We are working on this. I can't
be more specific at this time."
Pakistan has been marketing its new fighter-jet, tank
and other weapons to the Gulf. Western defense
analysts said these weapons are largely based on
Chinese technology and U.S.-based platforms.
Earlier, Pakistan announced that it will display the first lot of
indigenous Al-Khalid tanks in June.
The Al-Kahlid has a dual magnification gunner's sight, 125 mm smooth
bore gun, thermal imager and a tracker system, an autoloader, image
stabilizer
and a panoramic sight for the commander, an official announcment said.
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
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