Pakistan

India says Sino-Pakistan ties a 'serious concern'

Defence Minister says the "only answer" for India is to increase its capability.

Afp May 21, 2011

NEW DEHLI: India views with "serious concern" growing defence ties between China and Pakistan and says it will have to bolster its own military capabilities to meet the challenge.

"It is a matter of serious concern for us. The main thing is we have to increase our capability -- that is the only answer," Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters in New Delhi late on Friday.

The comments followed reports China plans to accelerate supply of 50 new JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat jets to Pakistan under a co-production pact.

Antony added safe havens for militants in Pakistan is another "main concern" for New Delhi and told Islamabad to "disband and destroy" all guerrilla outfits if it "sincerely" wants to improve relations with India.

The killing of Osama bin Laden by US commandos in Pakistan has "internationally stamped the nation's position as the core of terrorist activities in the South Asian region," he said.

India has long accused Pakistan of providing shelter and support to militant groups planning attacks on Indian soil and has pushed the global community -- the United States in particular -- to censure Pakistan accordingly.

COMMENTS (52)

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply Neither Pakistan nor China gives a damn.

Mujahed Al Islam | 13 years ago | Reply India will NEVER be secure with Pakistan. EVER. We are built to take on anything you throw at us: your weapons, your RAW-inspired and funded terrorists and your military. Untill we - the Pakistanis - go back to the ideals of Mahmood of Ghazni and Ghauri FEARLESS leaders who were ONLY scared of the ONE Almighty, we will not come out of this morass. We are Muslims and we have lost our dignity because our so-called leaders are beggars of US$$s

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Asim Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Why we the Pakistanis are wasting our time on this indian propaganda and reothric. india can never be our friend the terrorist attacks happening in Pakistan is being aided by india. On one hand it helps terrosits who wreack havoc in Pakistan to make it fragile and than on the other hands says we are fragile. We Pakistanis are not shocked by the statement made by the largest hypocrisy in the world. Down with india. Pakistan Zindabad.

Saqib | 13 years ago | Reply Antony Concern was right. . They failed to get complete hold of Kashmir from the past many decades .. 10 terrorist at Mumbai was found difficult to tackle.. then why.? Mr.Antony should not be worried/scared . Please Tell me..?

Kidwai | 13 years ago | Reply India will have to liberate Kashmir first but still India and Pakistan cannot have friendly ties with each other. That is just not possible. No Pakistani can dream about making alliance with India. You should watch cricket match between India and Pakistan. Friendship with India is just not possible.We can always live like neighbors but the rivalry is always going to be the same as always. Else cricket won't be fun anymore.

Kidwai | 13 years ago | Reply It's a stalemate for India now because Pakistan also has nuclear weapons and much powerful weapons now. India knows that if they made a mistake of attacking Pakistan. The strategic response is not going to be like1965 war but it's going to be much powerful this time and India is going to suffer more because their economy is progressing at the moment. Pakistan is quite capable of sending India 200 years back and lets not forget that Pakistan's economy might not be strong like Indian economy but Pakistan has the alot of backing from China and Saudi Arabia. Especially Saudi Royal family has very strong ties with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is also backing the Talibans in Afghanistan. It's going to be always win win situation for Pakistan.

Pradeep | 13 years ago | Reply @K9: So you support or affirm what he did? It will be very sad if its the case, that normal Pakistanis desire/appreciate such killing of innocent people who have nothing to do with this rhetoric. I don't know what harm has the coolie on CST platform done to Pakistan, to deserve death at the hands of a brainwashed kid. Coming to Antony's comment: We have the necessary means to increase our capability at any point of time vis-a-vis China, not Pakistan. The media here off late has been incensed with Chinese not Pakistan which reflects the general sentiment of our people. We're strong enough for Pakistan, not comparing the defense capabilities but the economic and international goodwill we have garnered. China, is something everybody is concerned with here. It's ready to accept our market yet doesn't stop the aggression at borders. It will be a challenge to cast an impression on the Chinese to not look at us as soft baskets.

Tony Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Asad Hayat Khan: Every long journey begins with first step. Unlike you, we Indians realise that. To take the first step one has to have a dream. We not only dreamt, but took several steps in the direction of progress. My dear friend in next ten years you will see the difference. Not only with respect to China, but with respect to the world. Our democracy and human resources are already bringing in the change. Only people who are blinded by hatred towards us cannot see them. Those forces will be in state of denials for all time to come.

Rao Amjad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan's childlike and false perception that China is engaged in an altruistic love affair with it in perpetuity only reflects a lack of understanding of the governing principles of international relations. Like most other countries, China has little patience for Pakistan's extremist tendencies, systemic state sector inefficiencies, lawlesssness and increasing cost of doing business that is wrapped in high levels of moral hazard. The fact is that countries that have assumed a globally recognized staure with significantly increased sphere of influence through both military muscle and soft power (economic hegemony), a category for which China eminently qualifies and India is fast moving towards it, create and or consolidate startegic alliances to maintain and expand their ambit of power. Narayana Murthi's list of countries above, I would add the Sudan to it, with which China has established trading relationships is a good reminder that China does not carve out friendships based on sentiment or whim. No wonder then that China's investment in Pakistan's social sector development has been non-existent, most of its support and funidng has come in the way of technical assistance in defense production to bolster Pakistan's military capability in all likelihood to ensure it would act in an hour of need as a bulwark against India. Successive Chinese leaders have remained committed to forging strategic alignments, not "club memberships", a foreign relationing scheme that remains in tact in China's ideological framework and one that does entertain foreign policy prescriptions based on a somehwat elusive notion of historic bonding, which is what Pakistanis often seemingly assume to be the case in their definition of friendship with China. Due to a variety of historic, economic, cultural and geopolitical reasons, Pakistan, in my view, will remain locked into a cycle of poverty and terrorism unless it creates peace with India. The road, therefore, to Pakistan's well being runs through New Delhi, not Beijing. If history is any guide, a China-centric Pakistan policy will keep its enduring anti-India mindset intact which is inimical to its own strategic interests of economic growth and prosperity. As some Indo-China watcers would agree, it is not far fetched perhaps to assume that if the trajectory of economic development and prosperity of China and India remains on course, they will likely become interdependednt trading partners in-not-too-distant-future.

amjad | 13 years ago | Reply What is new about this relationship, as it has ben there since !949, in good and bad times. India is a major power, there should be no reason for any concerns

Ranjit | 13 years ago | Reply The Indian subcontinent has a tragic history of its local rulers fighting with each other and going to some outside power for 'support'......typically it ends up badly for everyone.....the outside power ensures that the entire subcontinent is either enslaved or impoverished........that is simply because 'Rishtey barabar walon mein hoti hain'........... Just look at what USA and western support has created in Pakistan.......you thought supporting it in the Afghan war would get you Kashmir and other support against India........instead you are barely able to survive as a country now..........if you now get dependent on China, will it improve your own country?........No way!!........you will shift one dependence to another dependence.........that too on an atheist China that regularly slaughters muslims in Xinjiang..... Why cant India, Pakistan and Afghanistan sit together, form an alliance and focus on joint economic development?.......together as allies we can develop ourselves and improve the lives of our citizens......and we can be independent of outside influence......

Wasim | 13 years ago | Reply @AD: The fact remains that Pakistan is a nuclear power, and contains more nuclear war heads than India therefore in an event of a war breaking out between these two enemies, Pakistan will succeed in destroying India. Also, 1.2 billion people are on a burden on Earth's finite resources therefore Pakistan will be doing the world a favour by getting rid of Indian parasites.

Wasim | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan should consider it a victory that its enemy (India) acknowledges the fact that our nuclear capability can wipe India off the map. Instead of increasing its own military capability, India should try to help the 492 million Indians who the UN estimates are "living below the bread line". Also, the Indian officials should think twice before suggesting that the Indian army may conduct operations inside Pakistan. With the unbreakable bond between Pakistan and China, the two nations can easily inflict mass damage on India.

Romm | 13 years ago | Reply I feel pity @indians. How helpless a nation of 1 Billion is? I don't think they right to be called as nation rather a junk.

Kidwai | 13 years ago | Reply Resolve the Kashmir issue all problems will be solved else more arms race, more destruction more poverty and more terrorism for both countries. Kashmir issue is the solution to all the problems and America Israel or NATO will not allow to resolve this important issue of Kashmir because they want this arms race to continue between Indian and Pakistan.

Hafeez.Indian | 13 years ago | Reply Good News for Arms manufacturers of USA, Europe.

Mohsin Hijazee | 13 years ago | Reply I wish all of these billions of dollars that we are spending for a fight that we will probably never will be fighting should go to the hungry people of both countries. We both are far below the European and Western lifestyles. We can join forces together. India, Pakistan & China. A happy Asia.

Asad Hayat Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @No_one: India can never take care of China. So, keep dreaming. I think China they took care of you and probably your memories are giving you a nightmares for that. That was the Idiotic Adventure by Nehru. I really have no clue why Indians are so scared of China? When China ever invaded a nation? Whereas India and its Notorious agencies has been involved in State Terrorism activities for the last 60 years. Either it is Intrusion of 1971 or Training and Financing Tamil Tigers to attack SriLankan Govt forces or Atrocities in Kashmir or Terrorism in Balochistan Via Afghanistan. List is long. China never ever did any such thing to its neighbors including India even when they had kicked their rears in 1962 .If at that point it wanted , it could take all those disputed territories but It went back to its positions. Indians have bad intentions toward all its neighbors . Ask Sri Lankans who fought 30 years of long war financed but the Terrorist State of India. No Neighbor would like terrorist nation like India But on the other hand everyone will welcome China. And it is obvious from neighbor's behavior. China is welcome almost everywhere. Learn some lesson from China you Indians.

amarjamali | 13 years ago | Reply calm down guys no need to be emotional.no one is going to invade any one.if some does it will be suicidal.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply @Blithe: Very well spoken, but this world belongs to the 'Neocons and Al Qaida' both born from the same womb, both want the New World Order to be implemented, except that like the two inhabitants in Gulliver's travel which end to break the egg? These two twins fight each other on the method of terrorizing others to accept their New World Order.UN belongs to followers of Zionism. Kashmiris and Palestinians have no chance of leading a decent life.

Straight-Talk | 13 years ago | Reply You both India and Pakistan are having sufficient nuclear weapons to destroy one another so why are you purchasing more weapons. We are after brother living in separated houses since 1947, what you will get in destroying each other with help of third countries like US, China, Russia. Who will benefit with this? Kashmir is an emotional issue between India and Pakistan. India already suffered division in the name of religion by way of Pakistan and do you expect more division in the name religion by way of Kashmir? nobody will accept it in India. India is democracy and no government will be able to take decision unilaterally in this regard. So only way is way of talking. Divide Kashmir as you had already divided Punjab and Bengal, give one share to Pakistan and another to India. Only this solutions is possible and nothing else.

Amin | 13 years ago | Reply Why does Pakistan need those jet fighters and for that matter why does India need to have such a large military budget? Both countries need to take a lesson from post-war Japan and Germany which invested in human capital rather than military capital. A nation's power and prestige is derived by the contributions of its citizens towards the betterment of human kind. Isn't it shameful that between India and Pakistan's combined population of 1.4 Billion people our two nations haven't been able to produce a Jonas Salk, Charles Babbage or even a Jacque Costeau?

Usman | 13 years ago | Reply This is a stupid comment. The subcontinent needs to stop being scared of each other and start being scared of human development. Last I checked, dirty water in Pakistan and India has killed millions more than either party has. These defence guys are all the same: dirty.

Rick | 13 years ago | Reply How much stupid can we all get? How much lower can we go? The people in the Subcontinent cannot think from the head, they all think from the heart and are emotional over everything. You can see it from the comments here. Everybody is taking advantage of that.. even our own politicians, Religious leaders, Army and the Security Agencies. Why should we be foolish enough to let these leaders take us for a ride? They are of the older generation, who had got rigid mindsets and see the world from a very narrow perspective. They think of how to control other peoples mind and make money through religion, race, caste, and nationalism, etc. Eventually it is all about power to them. They have all branded us like cattle belonging to different stables. They watch the fun while we fight and milk us whenever they need some money or power. We should refuse to fall in this trap and even acquire a mindset like theirs. We young guys and girls, the new generation should refuse to fall in this trap and all of us has to be united. All the boundaries are decided and so why have we to fight with each other and actually who cares.. the world is becoming a global village. Once we have this attitude even the Kashmir problem will be solved. The Army in Pakistan is putting the fear of India and trying to control and same goes with the political leaders in India they make use of Pakistan and try to get power. They all think we the people are stupid and yes i agree we are stupid, when i see the comments here. I feel so ashamed when I see the Pakistani and Indians fighting even in the Washington Post and New York times comments post. It shows how emotional and stupid we are. The International community is watching the fun and playing each against the other and making money.. So all you guys, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal.. all of you;ll get some sense. Stop using all these religions, or act as victims with each other. China, America are all pragmatic societies, they do not think in an emotional way and are very far sighted. They are just taking advantage of us. They know we are naive and how we react to things. China will never fight with anybody, because they are more concerned with economics but will keep all the fight going through proxies like they use North Korea against South Korea and Japan. Myanmar against Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Pakistan against India. At the end of it all.. it will be we who will suffer. Raise up all of you and unite, Show the world that, united we are a force to reckon with. PS : Stop sending stupid comments after reading this and think of ways how to eliminate poverty and give a decent education to all of us. We have miles to go.

Kazmis | 13 years ago | Reply India is rightly afraid of the present position. In fact he could not clearly say that India is more afraid of China & not Pakistan. The way China is inclined toward Pakistan is not making Pakistan thing to be afraid of, but the intention of China toward India is the main thing. It is very clear that Pakistan was or perhaps is a friend of US, how it is getting dear and dearer to Chinese suddenly. No..actually China and some more powers work for it and the aim is to curtail India from dreaming big dreams.

Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply We were a proxy of war for USA till yesterday, now a proxy of china! Nothing has changed, except the donor! Why can't we live independently instead of serving different masters!

Khalid Masood | 13 years ago | Reply **What a cowardly attitude of Indians. Pakistan is not going to invade India next week........... I assure them.**

ashwin | 13 years ago | Reply @AD: That is a awful thing to say, yet so true, i couldn't have articulated it any better.

K9 | 13 years ago | Reply i love how the Indians here forget.. that one Ajmal kasab had India in tatters and that also for 3 days lol!..here they talk about Pakistan let alone china.. being the concern hahahha

Praveen | 13 years ago | Reply @ikhan: Don't worry. We will take care of that. We dont run around with a begging bowl like you.....remember.

Arif Z | 13 years ago | Reply @ikhan: Don't make fun of poverty... first see if you have enough to eat for yourself!

ikhan | 13 years ago | Reply @Mukesh: Firs get some food for your hungry millions please

Samiullah | 13 years ago | Reply @Someone Don't you think the very reason Pakistan is siding with China is because of Pakistan's obsession (read fear) with India? ;-) @Muhammad Saifullah Khalid Mr. Anthony is just starting an arms race. Remember it is Pakistan which will suffer the most in an arms race. The price of those 50 fighter jets is just $1 billion. India's annual military budget is a whopping $40 billion.

AD | 13 years ago | Reply China & America are milking Pakistan dry.Pakistan has become safe ground for all kind of weapon testing lab for both these countries.When America scare Pak rush to China.When China scare Pak rush to America.When India scare Pak rush to Jihadies.Sometime i wonder if Pakistan is nation at all.or may be just people from pre 1947 India are cramped in a land waiting to be rescued.

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply Indians & Pakistanis, I mean the 'everyday' ones, are more concerned about the social Trinity which is 'roti, kapada aur makan' than F-16 or F-666s. Hope that both political leaders get some maturity, and discuss serious matters, like regional cooperation, which is the only way to have a 'true' peace, as everyone has more to gain with peace than money-eating, blood-sucking, life-murdering war.

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply The elephant in the room in Kashmir. That needs to be solved per UN Resolutions.

Kidwai | 13 years ago | Reply As China has already warned India that Pakistan is China's "Israel" and China will keep arming Pakistan against India. Lets not forget China has been strongly backing Pakistan to counter tense ties with US after Osama Bin Laden's recent incident. America will not be always babysitting for India and will eventually leave Afghanistan which will become a major problem for India once Talibans will start regrouping against India. Therefore India should start worry about these things first.

Umayr Masud | 13 years ago | Reply India like Pakistan needs to feed its poor. This warmongering has to stop someday.

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Whats the purpose of acquiring atomic bombs if these countries are still ready to waste money on conventional weapons.

Arif Osman | 13 years ago | Reply I think its high time somebody gets up to the Indians and tell them to mind their own business. Stop being the Greedy Child of South Asia. You have the American Civilian Nuclear Technology, Armed to its teeth with Migs,French Jets and God knowns from every quarter. So stop your covetous mind-set.

indian | 13 years ago | Reply by d way y r u both fighting.... let d politicians speak wat dey want to.. dont let hatred grow in each others hearts for each other... 20 years back one of my uncle went to pak to see his ancestral home which he left after partition... he met some shopkeepers dere in market nd wen he told dem dat hez from india, every1 out dere showed so much hospitality to him... dey filled his pockets wid dry fruits if he cud nt finish dose which were served to him... so d general public of both d countries is same... only d politicians rhetoric makes d difference...:) peace.. i m hindu bt still i know d meaning nd significance of... "la ilaha illalla mohammad ur rasul; allah"...:)

Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Do not forget India has awarded contract of Billons Dollars to Europe for getting Jet fighters.. so it is nessary for Pakistan to keep balance although at minimum level .. India is not capable to fight China.. They should made bold decesion to give liberation to people of occupied Kashmir to get releaf to their own People and as well to Pakistani people to spend these money on them instead of awarding them to Europe and China............

Naveed | 13 years ago | Reply so what does this mean ??.....Pakistan and Indian military capabilities are evenly balanced?.

gunjan | 13 years ago | Reply @Someone A mad man with a knife is more dangerous than a sensible man with a gun. The sensible one will have a well thought purpose, most likely.

narayana murthy | 13 years ago | Reply I know that Anthony is sending a message to China and not to Pakistan here. However, everyone knows that, In case of a serious conflict, this is of zero concern. China cannot interfere, at any cost. We have to understand that, we are living in a world, where everybody surrounds everybody. With Russia and USA firmly behind India and much of the rest of the world backing India on any given day, there should be no fear. However, Pakistan by playing to the hands of the Chinese (they have been played before by USA, China, Saudi...), they appear to be digging their own grave. Pakistanis say, China is a true friend. China is an opportunist. Look at its satellite countries - N Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Pakistan...can anyone see a pattern here?

Watchman | 13 years ago | Reply India doesn't need to compete with pakistan and india can't compete with china so whats the fuss about?

Muhammad Saifullah Khalid | 13 years ago | Reply hey Mukesh... read the comments of Mr. Antony again... he is worried about the increased capacity of Pakistan and he wishes to increase India's capacity as well (he never mentioned China's Capacity) Even though if he is... India has US, Russia and Israel to provide arms but why India is RE-acting coward for only one country's Help for Pakistan ??? ;)

delhi_se | 13 years ago | Reply Why would our leaders make such insecure foolish comments. We need revolution, throw away such incompetent leaders who just crib and have no balls to take action. We need leaders who act and not just crib.

No_one | 13 years ago | Reply @Someone: India has no obession @ PAK nor it is afraid about it its only China that India needs to take care.

Mukesh | 13 years ago | Reply He is concerned about China arming you. You are not a concern. China is. By the way, keep trying to keep up. Remember, we have more money. The more you buy, the more fun it gets.

Someone | 13 years ago | Reply Lol....that shows the level of obsession India has about Pakistan. A nation of 1 billion+ vs. a nation of only 180 million. Look at the size and compare it with the disparity of power :)

aamir irfan | 13 years ago | Reply if we love china so much why don't we adopt their athiest ideology as well? it would solve the religious terrorism problem we have & another 350000 lives won't have to be lost due to religious fanaticism. Athiests,agnostics & humanists should be allowed to live and prosper in our country,it would be a much much more peaceful society if we had a majority athiest population.

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