Early Times Report
Jammu, May 7: Feeling anxious over the sudden increase in the quantum of military aid to Pakistan by both Washington and Beijing, the senior functionaries of various security agencies, including the Army, posted in Jammu and Kashmir said that all efforts are being made to upgrade the present security grid keeping in view the latest development.
Sources said during the past about 10 years Washington had curtailed military aid to Pakistan on the plea that whatever weapons and ammunition Islamabad received was being given to militants who were operating in Jammu and Kashmir and to terrorists active in Afghanistan.
But, the latest decision of Washington on transferring various defence equipments from Afghanistan to Pakistan has caused worries among senior functionaries of security agencies and Army in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
Reports said that the US has handed over to Pakistan 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armored personnel carriers, which were earlier used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the internal report prepared by Congressional Research Service (CRS)-- an independent research wing of the Congress-Pakistan has either made full payment or will make payments from its national funds towards the purchase of 18 new F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft worth $1.43 billion which includes F-16 armaments including 500 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; 1,450 2,000-pound bombs; 500 JDAM Tail Kits for gravity bombs; and 1,600 Enhanced Paveway laser-guided kits.
Government circles too are worried not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in New Delhi too because of their apprehensions that Pakistan could use these weapons against India.
Reports said that New Delhi has already conveyed to Washington India's concern over the transfer of weapons, missiles, war planes and other equipments from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
"New Delhi has, reports said, "informed Washington that during the last over 25 years part of the military aid from Washington and Beijing had been utilized on promoting insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and in other Indian states."
In the context of these reports, security agencies especially the Army in Jammu and Kashmir have been instructed to initiate measures for strengthening the security grid in the state so that any mischief from Pakistani agencies could be foiled especially Pakistan Army's bid to help militants in crossing into Jammu and Kashmir for escalating the level of violence. |
