'Indo-Israel nexus to destabilise S Asia'

Expressing concern over this development particularly in view of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's expected visit to New Delhi next month, The News quoted Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan as saying: "We are concerned about the defence cooperation between India and Israel, as this will have a negative impact on the region."

"Also, it is a very disturbing development about reports that New Delhi is to receive F-16 aircraft from the United States. This will have a very negative impact on the security situation in the region," he added.

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Regretting what he alleged to be Washington's double standards on the aircraft issue, Khan said that the United States had been reluctant to sell F-16 aircraft to Islamabad even though it had received payment for the same.

"We did have a settlement of the issue, but these aircraft were never delivered."

Islamabad is worried about the "conditionality" imposed by the US Congress while releasing the $3 billion aid package announced by President Bush. Khan said talks between Pakistan, the US government, Congress and opinion makers were continuing.

Counter charging India with maintaining "terrorist training camps", the spokesman said New Delhi needed to dismantle them immediately and stop what he termed "anti-Pakistan activities" through its consulates in Afghanistan.

"There are terrorists camps across the LoC (Line of Control)...and we hope India would dismantle its terrorist training apparatus. India should cease its activities inside Afghanistan, as it is regrettable. It should hold back these activities (against Pakistan). We have conveyed our concern and perceptions to Afghanistan."

He rejected accusations of terrorists being trained in Pakistan. "These are all lies, there is no substance to them."

Khan also said Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's "regrettable" remark on Monday on the Ayodhya issue was sub-judice, and every precaution should be taken to respect the sentiments of the communities involved. "It is for the government of India to protect all places of worship," he said.

"If Prime Minister Vajpayee wants to talk to Prime Minister Jamali or President Musharraf he can pick up the phone and do so. As far as the visit of Maulana Fazlur Rehman (in July) is concerned, it is too early to say whether this has helped relations between the two countries.