Pak says India ‘paranoid’ on F-16 deal, no impact on talks

Pakistan today accused India of being ‘‘paranoid’’ over its efforts to secure F-16 fighter aircraft and other weaponry f...

Pakistan today accused India of being ‘‘paranoid’’ over its efforts to secure F-16 fighter aircraft and other weaponry from US but said this would not have any bearing on nuclear and conventional confidence building measure talks between the two neighbours beginning here tomorrow.

Pakistan is ‘‘disturbed’’ by the statements of Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh that the US sale of F-16s and other military equipment to Islamabad would effect the ongoing peace process, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan told reporters here.

The two Indian ministers talked about F-16s, ‘‘sounding paranoid deliberately’’ by saying that it will have an impact on the on going peace process, he said adding, ‘‘the premise is wrong’’.

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‘‘By saying that, they are misleading Indian public opinion and misinforming international community,’’ he alleged, but said ‘‘we have assurance from highest level’’ to continue with the peace process.

Talks on nuclear CBMs would be held between December 14-15 while parleys on conventional CBMs will be held on December 15-16. This is the first time that the two sides would be holding talks on conventional CBMs.

Joint Secretary of Indian External Affairs Ministry, Mira Shankar would be heading the Indian delegation. Her Pakistani counterpart Tariq Usman Haider would be leading his country’s delegation.

Islamabad also said New Delhi has not “shared” any evidence to back its assertion that the attack on parliament three years ago was by Pakistan-backed Jaish-E-Mohammed militants. —PTI