06-11-2006, 05:51 AM
PPP says AWACS deal struck a week after Oct 26 earthquake
Islamabad, June 04: Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party today claimed the government had finalised the one billion dollar deal for Swedish airborne AWACS radar just a week after the deadly quake last year even as it was seeking largescale international assistance for relief works.
Contradicting official claims that the deal was approved by the Cabinet only on May 24, PPP spokesman Farhtullah Babar said a "down-payment" for the deal was made a week after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and NWFP in which over 85,000 people were killed.
"There are several questions and inconsistencies. The deal was signed and the down payment made in October last. A month later General Pervez Musharraf claimed that he had yet to give a final go ahead to the deal," Babar who was also the member of Senate Defence Committee till recently, said in an article in a newspaper today.
"Neither Pakistan nor Sweden announced it (even though) the deal was signed and a down-payment made on October 15, a week after the earthquake that sent the government in a tailspin begging financial assistance for relief and reconstruction.
"It is therefore strange that the Cabinet met to accord `approval` to a deal that had already been done and sealed," Babar who was also the spokesman for PPP chairperson and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto said.
Babar said even though the deal was clinched Musharraf, who put off the purchase of 75 f-16s from the US in view of the quake maintained no decision was not take on AWACS which involved Swedish Erie-eye radars fitted on to SAAB planes.
Pakistan Air Force wanted the AWACS to mach the falcon airborne radars being acquired by the Indian Air Force.
"The opposition members demanded cancellation of the deal citing reasons for it. We pointed out that in the meeting Musharraf had himself told foreign journalists on November 17, we haven`t decided it (the SAAB deal) as yet," Babar said.
At that point the nation was desperately seeking donations for earthquake reconstruction. International donors asked us to reprioritise our spending, he said adding "we are also witnessing a strident drive for peace in the region that should serve as some breather in the reckless arms race.
Babar`s criticism of AWACS came as Pakistan reportedly plans to hike its defence expenditure by Rs 50 billion in the budget for 2006-7 scheduled to be presented in the National Assembly tomorrow for new acquisitions.
"Is national security to be measured in terms of bullet for bullet, gun for gun and radar for radar (with India) or is it to be measured in terms of social cohesion, national integration and economic development in addition to military muscle," he said.
Babar also questioned the decision to opt for SAAB deal stating that the technology was considered obsolete.
"The evaluation of the surveillance technology reportedly started several years ago raising questions whether the technology has not become obsolete and also the price at which it was available then and now," he said.
"The MiG-29s and Sukhoi 30s in the Indian Air Force are equipped with BVR (beyond-visual-range) capability. Its acquisition of a strategic radar systems from Israel has raised concerns whether surveillance technology being acquired now by Pakistan is capable of effectively addressing the threat perception arising out of India`s capability," he said.
Bureau Report
Islamabad, June 04: Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party today claimed the government had finalised the one billion dollar deal for Swedish airborne AWACS radar just a week after the deadly quake last year even as it was seeking largescale international assistance for relief works.
Contradicting official claims that the deal was approved by the Cabinet only on May 24, PPP spokesman Farhtullah Babar said a "down-payment" for the deal was made a week after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and NWFP in which over 85,000 people were killed.
"There are several questions and inconsistencies. The deal was signed and the down payment made in October last. A month later General Pervez Musharraf claimed that he had yet to give a final go ahead to the deal," Babar who was also the member of Senate Defence Committee till recently, said in an article in a newspaper today.
"Neither Pakistan nor Sweden announced it (even though) the deal was signed and a down-payment made on October 15, a week after the earthquake that sent the government in a tailspin begging financial assistance for relief and reconstruction.
"It is therefore strange that the Cabinet met to accord `approval` to a deal that had already been done and sealed," Babar who was also the spokesman for PPP chairperson and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto said.
Babar said even though the deal was clinched Musharraf, who put off the purchase of 75 f-16s from the US in view of the quake maintained no decision was not take on AWACS which involved Swedish Erie-eye radars fitted on to SAAB planes.
Pakistan Air Force wanted the AWACS to mach the falcon airborne radars being acquired by the Indian Air Force.
"The opposition members demanded cancellation of the deal citing reasons for it. We pointed out that in the meeting Musharraf had himself told foreign journalists on November 17, we haven`t decided it (the SAAB deal) as yet," Babar said.
At that point the nation was desperately seeking donations for earthquake reconstruction. International donors asked us to reprioritise our spending, he said adding "we are also witnessing a strident drive for peace in the region that should serve as some breather in the reckless arms race.
Babar`s criticism of AWACS came as Pakistan reportedly plans to hike its defence expenditure by Rs 50 billion in the budget for 2006-7 scheduled to be presented in the National Assembly tomorrow for new acquisitions.
"Is national security to be measured in terms of bullet for bullet, gun for gun and radar for radar (with India) or is it to be measured in terms of social cohesion, national integration and economic development in addition to military muscle," he said.
Babar also questioned the decision to opt for SAAB deal stating that the technology was considered obsolete.
"The evaluation of the surveillance technology reportedly started several years ago raising questions whether the technology has not become obsolete and also the price at which it was available then and now," he said.
"The MiG-29s and Sukhoi 30s in the Indian Air Force are equipped with BVR (beyond-visual-range) capability. Its acquisition of a strategic radar systems from Israel has raised concerns whether surveillance technology being acquired now by Pakistan is capable of effectively addressing the threat perception arising out of India`s capability," he said.
Bureau Report