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ISLAMABADCanada's arms embargo against Pakistan adds to the dangers faced by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, a Pakistan government official says, demanding Ottawa end its 11-year-ban.
"Canada needs to step up," Abdul Basit, a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman, told the Star. "We can see that other countries are increasing their aid to Pakistan. Look at the U.S. with what it's doing with the (aid boosting) Kerry-Lugar bill. Canada's arms embargo on Pakistan is short-sighted.
"These terrorists move across the border (from Pakistan) to Afghanistan and kill Canadian soldiers. Why would Canada not want to help us in this battle? Canada needs to change this policy."
Pakistan is ensnared in a landmark battle with Islamic militants who call themselves Taliban and fighting has been fierce in South Waziristan, the country's tribal region that has acted as a lawless safe haven for insurgents
When Pakistan began its military campaign, senior officers said they were concerned because the army and air force lack enough night-vision goggles and unmanned aerial drones. Canadian companies make both products well yet aren't allowed to sell them here.
Pakistan doesn't understand why, Basit said.
The subject of Canada's arms embargo has been debated inside the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad for more than a year as some staffers tried to make a case to Ottawa that Canada should offer support to Pakistan in its fight against the Taliban. Canadian officials in Ottawa have said no.
During a visit to Islamabad in May, Defence Minister Peter McKay told the Star Canada was open to ending the ban. "Doing military business in the future, and trade in particular, is something that is under consideration," MacKay said at the time after meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.
But a day later, the ministry flip-flopped and said in a press release the policy was not under review.
Western diplomats say there are several reasons Canada may be refusing to budge. Canadian officials are still upset that Pakistan secretly used Canadian technology in the mid-1990s to develop its nuclear programs. (As did India.) Trust also remains an issue.
Islamabad has repeatedly been accused of misusing aid money that was supposed to be spent on its battle against terrorists.
Last year, for instance, the U.S. general accounting office released a report that said the Bush administration had provided $2 billion worth of aid to Pakistan without any proof the money had been used for its intended purpose. The Pentagon, for instance, spent $20 million (U.S.) for the construction of new roads for the army and $15 million for new bunkers. There was no evidence that either project was finished, the report said.
Now, the U.S. is offering to significantly increase military and non-military aid to Pakistan. The Kerry-Lugar bill would triple U.S. aid to Pakistan to $7 billion over the next five years, although many Pakistanis oppose the bill because they say its strict conditions undermine their country's sovereignty.
Canada, meanwhile, has committed $32 million through 2011 to support Pakistan-Afghanistan border management and training.
Recently, Canada supplied Pakistan with scanners that are designed to search trucks for arms and munitions. The trucks were supposed to be sent directly to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. But for more than six months, the scanners sat in storage in Karachi because of a debacle over invoicing.
"It was a classic case of bribery," said one Western diplomat familiar with the case. "The local people in Karachi wouldn't let the scanners go until the bribes had been paid."
Canada's foreign affairs department said in a statement "Canada's policy regarding military exports to Pakistan, announced in 1998 following Pakistan's nuclear weapons test, remains unchanged. There are no plans to lift restrictions on military exports to Pakistan."
Satish Chandra, a former Indian ambassador to Pakistan, said Canada is doing the right thing by maintaining the embargo(look who is talking), even though other countries such as the United States freely sell arms there.
"Canada tends to be a lot more sensitive and careful about providing arms to conflict-zone areas than the U.S. does," Chandra said. "The U.S. has such a broad agenda that it turns a blind eye to many things. Canada doesn't."
A Western diplomat said Canada risks losing its influence in Pakistan by enforcing the weapons ban.(canada is under redneck administration) "It's not like Pakistan has no options," the diplomat said, adding China would likely covet closer ties to Pakistan and provide military aid.
Pakistan pleads for weapons aid - thestar.com
"Canada needs to step up," Abdul Basit, a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman, told the Star. "We can see that other countries are increasing their aid to Pakistan. Look at the U.S. with what it's doing with the (aid boosting) Kerry-Lugar bill. Canada's arms embargo on Pakistan is short-sighted.
"These terrorists move across the border (from Pakistan) to Afghanistan and kill Canadian soldiers. Why would Canada not want to help us in this battle? Canada needs to change this policy."
Pakistan is ensnared in a landmark battle with Islamic militants who call themselves Taliban and fighting has been fierce in South Waziristan, the country's tribal region that has acted as a lawless safe haven for insurgents
When Pakistan began its military campaign, senior officers said they were concerned because the army and air force lack enough night-vision goggles and unmanned aerial drones. Canadian companies make both products well yet aren't allowed to sell them here.
Pakistan doesn't understand why, Basit said.
The subject of Canada's arms embargo has been debated inside the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad for more than a year as some staffers tried to make a case to Ottawa that Canada should offer support to Pakistan in its fight against the Taliban. Canadian officials in Ottawa have said no.
During a visit to Islamabad in May, Defence Minister Peter McKay told the Star Canada was open to ending the ban. "Doing military business in the future, and trade in particular, is something that is under consideration," MacKay said at the time after meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.
But a day later, the ministry flip-flopped and said in a press release the policy was not under review.
Western diplomats say there are several reasons Canada may be refusing to budge. Canadian officials are still upset that Pakistan secretly used Canadian technology in the mid-1990s to develop its nuclear programs. (As did India.) Trust also remains an issue.
Islamabad has repeatedly been accused of misusing aid money that was supposed to be spent on its battle against terrorists.
Last year, for instance, the U.S. general accounting office released a report that said the Bush administration had provided $2 billion worth of aid to Pakistan without any proof the money had been used for its intended purpose. The Pentagon, for instance, spent $20 million (U.S.) for the construction of new roads for the army and $15 million for new bunkers. There was no evidence that either project was finished, the report said.
Now, the U.S. is offering to significantly increase military and non-military aid to Pakistan. The Kerry-Lugar bill would triple U.S. aid to Pakistan to $7 billion over the next five years, although many Pakistanis oppose the bill because they say its strict conditions undermine their country's sovereignty.
Canada, meanwhile, has committed $32 million through 2011 to support Pakistan-Afghanistan border management and training.
Recently, Canada supplied Pakistan with scanners that are designed to search trucks for arms and munitions. The trucks were supposed to be sent directly to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. But for more than six months, the scanners sat in storage in Karachi because of a debacle over invoicing.
"It was a classic case of bribery," said one Western diplomat familiar with the case. "The local people in Karachi wouldn't let the scanners go until the bribes had been paid."
Canada's foreign affairs department said in a statement "Canada's policy regarding military exports to Pakistan, announced in 1998 following Pakistan's nuclear weapons test, remains unchanged. There are no plans to lift restrictions on military exports to Pakistan."
Satish Chandra, a former Indian ambassador to Pakistan, said Canada is doing the right thing by maintaining the embargo(look who is talking), even though other countries such as the United States freely sell arms there.
"Canada tends to be a lot more sensitive and careful about providing arms to conflict-zone areas than the U.S. does," Chandra said. "The U.S. has such a broad agenda that it turns a blind eye to many things. Canada doesn't."
A Western diplomat said Canada risks losing its influence in Pakistan by enforcing the weapons ban.(canada is under redneck administration) "It's not like Pakistan has no options," the diplomat said, adding China would likely covet closer ties to Pakistan and provide military aid.
Pakistan pleads for weapons aid - thestar.com
