Russia Says NO!!!! to PAKISTAN!!!!

Russia rules out supply of arms to Pakistan
The Press Trust of India, August 27, 2002

Stressing that India was its only “strategic partner” in South Asia, Russia
has firmly ruled out the possibility of any defence deal with Pakistan.

“Russia has only one strategic partner in the region, that is India and we
don’t see any others in this role,” Director General of “Rosoboronexport” state
corporation, Russia’s military exports agency, Andrey Belyaninov said.

When pointed out that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had in a recent
interview said that Islamabad wanted to buy modern weapons from Russia,
Belyaninov said “we are guided by President Putin’s strict directives of no
contacts or talks with Pakistan on defence deals”.

He underscored that the recent sale of Mi-17 helicopters to Islamabad is
‘strictly a civilian deal’ and ‘Rosoboronexport” has no role in it.

India is the only country in the world with which Russia has a long-term
programme of military-technical co-operation till year 2010, he said adding that
it would greatly help India in attaining self-sufficiency in hi-tech weaponry.

He also said that a major defence package was in the pipeline in the run-up
to President Vladimir Putin’s forthcoming state visit to India.

Besides China, India is one of the major defence partners of Russia and
accounts for nearly 40 per cent share in Moscow’s arms exports.

In December 2000, India signed the biggest ever deal of USD 3.3 billion with
Russia for the transfer of technology and licensed production of 140 Sukhoi
Su-30MKI multi-role fighters. In February 2001, USD 800 million T-90S deal was
inked by Moscow and New Delhi.

Belyaninov also expressed hope that by the time Putin undertakes his visit to
India, the deal on acquisition of Kiev class aircraft carrier “Admiral Gorshkov”
– one of the biggest ever defence deals signed between the two countries – would
be finalised.

This grand project, lasting around two years, would include the refitting of
44-thousand tonner aircraft with modern weapons and acquisition of two squadrons
of MiG-29K carrier born fighters. Russia would also build coastal infrastructure
for the servicing of the aircraft carrier.

With the launching of “Brahmos” cruise missile joint venture, Moscow and New
Delhi have confidently adopted the path of joint research, development and
production of futuristic, state-of-the-art weapon systems and force-multipliers
based on cutting-edge technology, Belyaninov said.

“We have another joint “Amur 1650” submarine project, for which talks are
underway between India and Russia,” he said.

The new generation Amur (Lada-class according to NATO classification)
submarines would be produced in India under license. Russia has also sent its
proposals for the integrated air-defence and anti-missile system incorporating
Indian Trishul missiles, Russian S-300PMU (Antey 2500) ABM systems and upgraded
Pechora SAM systems.

“We are yet to receive a response from our Indian partners” in this regard,
Belyaninov said.

Pending a final decision on the acquisition of Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT),
Russia is also offering its latest Yak-130 AJT after it has been cleared by the
Russian Air Force.

“Yak-130 is also being produced by an Italian company under license bought
from Russia, which is now trying to market it in India under the name of
Airmacchi-436,” Belyaninov said.

“India is a very pleasant but demanding partner. We have extensive plans to
fly together, sail together and together defend our land and sky,” Russia’s
chief arms exporter remarked.
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