Insta
India's Rafalr fighter jet (IAF)
India's acquisition of five of the 36 medium multi-role Rafale fighter jets built by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, which arrived at the Indian Air Force (IAF) airbase in Ambala on Wednesday (29 July) to upgrade its air capabilities, has irked Islamabad.
In a weekly press briefing, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui termed the Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition of Rafale jets as New Delhi's "disproportionate arms build-up".
"The world community must dissuade India from its disproportionate arms build-up, which could also lead to an arms race in South Asia," said Farooqui.
Expressing serious concerns over the Rafale acquisition by India, Farooqui raised the concern over New Delhi's "continued intentions to expand and modernise its nuclear arsenal".
"It is disturbing to note that India continues to amass military capabilities beyond its genuine security requirement. According to credible and reputable international research institutes, India is now the second-largest arms importer in the world," added Farooqui.
India's up-gradation of arms has certainly spread uneasiness in Pakistan amid a surge in deadly exchanges of gunfire and confrontation along the troubled Line of Control (LoC).
Pakistan has been urging the international community to take notice of what it calls "India's massive arms buildup" along with its "offensive security doctrine and force posture", which Islamabad says is adversely affecting the strategic stability of South Asia.
The story has been published via a syndicated feed, only the headline has been changed