Pakistan rubbishes US gun maker's claim of spurning $15m rifle deal over ethics
Pakistan embassy spokesperson says despite early interest by Desert Tech, it was never shortlisted for the contract.
Pakistan was seeking purchase of $15 million worth of precision rifles. PHOTO: FILE
WASHINGTON DC:
Pakistani embassy in Washington DC on Friday rubbished reports that an American gun manufacturer had declined a potential $15 million deal to provide precision rifles over fears they may be ultimately used against US soldiers.
According to the statement released by the Pakistan embassy spokesperson on Friday, the Utah gun maker Desert Tech, never even made it to the shortlist and that all reports to the contrary were baseless.
The statement added that Desert Tech had initially shown interest in securing the deal.
“Desert Tech's first and foremost ethical responsibility should be honesty,” the statement read. The spokesperson alleged that the company had clearly violated ethics by fabricating a story that at best was a publicity stunt.
Pakistan and the US enjoy a productive and mutually beneficial defence partnership, now for decades - a relationship that has been particularly critical more recently in fighting terrorists and in protecting our two peoples, the statement added.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is unwarranted and misguided.”
Earlier in January, Mike Davis, sales manager at Desert Tech, had said that company was on a short list for a contract with Pakistan, but spurned the opportunity because of unrest in Pakistan and ethical concerns.
"We don't know that those guns would've went somewhere bad, but with the unrest we just ended up not feeling right about it," Davis had told KTVX-TV, even though the sale would have been legal.
The company, based in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City, was founded in 2007 on the principle of keeping America and its allies safe, he added.
"As a business owner you always want to be successful, but I think ethically and morally you want to go about it the right way and stick behind your founding principles," Davis told KSL.
Pakistani embassy in Washington DC on Friday rubbished reports that an American gun manufacturer had declined a potential $15 million deal to provide precision rifles over fears they may be ultimately used against US soldiers.
According to the statement released by the Pakistan embassy spokesperson on Friday, the Utah gun maker Desert Tech, never even made it to the shortlist and that all reports to the contrary were baseless.
The statement added that Desert Tech had initially shown interest in securing the deal.
“Desert Tech's first and foremost ethical responsibility should be honesty,” the statement read. The spokesperson alleged that the company had clearly violated ethics by fabricating a story that at best was a publicity stunt.
Pakistan and the US enjoy a productive and mutually beneficial defence partnership, now for decades - a relationship that has been particularly critical more recently in fighting terrorists and in protecting our two peoples, the statement added.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is unwarranted and misguided.”
Earlier in January, Mike Davis, sales manager at Desert Tech, had said that company was on a short list for a contract with Pakistan, but spurned the opportunity because of unrest in Pakistan and ethical concerns.
"We don't know that those guns would've went somewhere bad, but with the unrest we just ended up not feeling right about it," Davis had told KTVX-TV, even though the sale would have been legal.
The company, based in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley City, was founded in 2007 on the principle of keeping America and its allies safe, he added.
"As a business owner you always want to be successful, but I think ethically and morally you want to go about it the right way and stick behind your founding principles," Davis told KSL.