India beyond Pakistan's reach

Islamabad placed its faith in the strategic balance provided in the subcontinent by Pakistan's nuclear deterrence, said an official. However, this meant Pakistan had reason to fear the Arrow missile -- an anti-missile system that would neutralise part of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "The real worry is the proposed sale of the Arrow to India by Israel which will seriously affect Pakistani missile capability," affirmed retired General Kamal Matanuddin.

Officially, Islamabad said it was "deeply concerned" about India's defence purchases from Israel. Unofficially, Pakistani officials said the resulting quantum leap in military capabilities meant that the purchases were no long Pakistan-specific.

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Pakistan's Foreign Office on Monday reflected this point of view by asking who India was arming itself against. "They can't all use all of these against Pakistan alone," said the Foreign Office spokesman.

Pakistani military experts said they were unconcerned about the purchase of the Israeli Phalcon early warning aircraft. And even if the Arrow missile system deal was struck today, said General Matanuddin, it would take at least a decade for it to put into place.

But though Islamabad insisted it was no longer in the business of matching India's conventional weapons capability, government officials admitted Pakistan was in desperate need to modernise its air force and navy.