[sacw] [ACT] IPARMW No.11 (29 Jan 00)

[Harsh Kapoor]

India Pakistan Arms Race & Militarisation Watch No.11
29 January 2000
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[1.]
DAWN
29 January 2000

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE'S MUSEUM WEBSITE

KARACHI, Jan 28: Pakistan Air Force's museum website
http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk was launched at a ceremony on Friday.

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[2.]
BBC News Online: World: South Asia
Saturday, 29 January, 2000, 17:48 GMT

PAKISTAN DEVELOPS LONGER RANGE AMMUNITION

Pakistan says it has achieved what it calls a breakthrough in ammunition
technology that will increase the range of its conventional weaponry.

An official statement said the country's Defence Science and Technology
Organisation DESTO has developed and manufactured
one-hundred-and-twenty-millimetre mortar ammunition which has double the
range of normal mortar shells.

The statement said the development was achieved without foreign
assistance, at low cost, and would enhance the firepower of the Pakistan
army. Correspondents say it could also enable Pakistan to earn
substantial profits from export sales.

=46rom the newsroom of the BBC World Service
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[3.]
The Nation
Saturday, January 29, 2000
Last update 6:30 GMT - 11:30 PST

INDIAN WAR GAMES TO INCLUDE N-AIRCRAFT CARRIER

PARIS (Internews)-A nuclear aircraft carrier and submarine will be
involved in a massive joint naval exercise between the Indian and French
navies next month, officials said here Friday.
With over 3,000 sailors, six ships, including a nuclear aircraft carrier
and a nuclear submarine, and 29 aircraft, the largest flotilla of the
=46rench Navy is headed for India for participating in the biggest ever
war games with the Indian Navy, defence officials said. Incidentally,
this is the first time that a nuclear ship or a submarine of a western
navy is being allowed into the Indian waters.
Code named Myrrhe, the exercise will be held off Bombay - the base of
the Western Naval Command - between February 23 and 28. The naval fleet
- led by the nuclear aircraft carrier Foch - and under the command of
Rear Admiral Cluzel, will reach Bombay on February 23. Besides Foch, the
ships participating in the exercises include nuclear submarine Emeraude,
Integrated Missile Launch Frigate Duquesne, anti-submarine Frigate
Tourville and Oil Carrier Jules Verne.
Along with the ships are 21 aircraft on board the aircraft carrier Foch,
including 12 Super Entender and six Alize aircraft, and three
helicopters of Dauphin and SuperFrelon type. The flotilla has already
left for Bombay and will cross Suez Canal on the way, calling at various
ports in Djibouti, Abu Dhabi and Doha before reaching Bombay. On its way
back, the flotilla will visit Madagascar, Reunion Islands and cross into
South Atlantic Ocean, before returning home on April 30.
=46rench defence officials said the joint exercises are significant for
both the countries as it opens a new chapter in bilateral defence
relations and brings the two navies closer. The exercises will also
enable the officers of the two sides to exchange views about the various
international and strategic issues and also about exploring ways and
means for expanding cooperation and collaboration between the two
forces. "The joint exercises with India will also reinforce the strong
bilateral relations," the defence officials said.
The joint exercises are just one of the crucial events on the calendar
of bilateral defence cooperation. In early February, the two countries
will conduct strategic dialogue which will cover a wide range of global,
regional and bilateral issues as well as look at the status of the
defence cooperation. Later in the year is the meeting of the High
Committee on Defence. The two sides are also said to be in advanced
stage of negotiations over the purchase by India of 10 Mirage 2000
aircraft.
The visit is also specially significant for the French as it marks the
biggest ever effort mounted by the French Navy for conducting joint
exercises so far off from France. "This visit will significantly express
the French presence in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans which are
extremely strategic areas," an official said.
"This will also display to the world that the French Navy has the
resources, manpower and operational capabilities of maintaining a task
force for expression of strategic interests across the globe," he added.