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Pakistan Seeks New Weapons from U.S.
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
By Munir Ahmad
Associated Press Writer

Formal discussions are to begin Thursday with the arrival of U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith, the delegation leader. The Pakistani side is led by Defense Secretary Gen. Hamid Nawaz. Feith will also hold separate meetings with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and other senior military officials to discuss Pakistan's defense needs, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- AP
A Pakistani-U.S. defense group on Tuesday began its first meeting since the United States imposed sanctions following Pakistan's controversial nuclear tests in 1998, with Pakistan hoping to parlay its support for the war on terrorism into a fresh agreement to beef up its military with modern weapons and equipment.

The four-day talks will focus on the release of weapons and equipment already earmarked for Pakistan but withheld after Pakistan's nuclear tests, according to a defense official with knowledge of the agenda. The meeting -- known as the Defense Consultative Group -- will also discuss the purchase of new weapons and the possibility of restarting joint military exercises, the official said.

In Washington, Pentagon officials on Monday said the meeting will deal with counterterrorism cooperation, as well as Pakistan's desire to bolster defense of its borders with Afghanistan and India.
(More: The Ledger-Enquirer News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

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