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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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