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India gets closer to Paris, Pak ties with France nosedive

Ranvir Nayar in Paris

As the Indo-French defence ties gain momentum, the French defence relations with Pakistan continue to nosedive.

France, which has been one of the biggest arms suppliers to Pakistan, seems to be changing its attitude towards Pakistan, especially since the thaw in relations with India began two years ago.

In order not to upset the Indians, France is understood to be reviewing its future defence ties with Pakistan.

Last year, during the Kargil conflict, France held back deliveries of eight Mirage aircraft and also an Agosta 90B class submarine. In fact, the submarine was held back literally at the last minute before it sailed out of a southern French port for Pakistan.

And at the end of the conflict, when France finally released the submarine and aircraft to Pakistan, it was defensive about the supplies. ``These are old contracts and since Pakistan has already paid for it, these are their property now and we have no right to hold them back any more,'' the French officials explained.

France has committed to sell 40 of these Mirages to Pakistan, of which 16 have already been delivered and the remaining are expected to be delivered in the coming months.

France will also sell two more Agosta submarines, taking the total to three.

Defence relations were crucial elements of the agenda of the National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra during his visit to Paris earlier this week. Besides discussing the bilateral defence relations during the strategic dialogue that he held with senior French officials on Monday and Tuesday, Mishra also met French Defence Minister Alain Richards.

India has been negotiating purchase of 10 Mirage 2000 aircraft from France and the French are also in the contention for providing Advanced Jet Trainers for the Indian Air Force. The purchase of these big ticket items, along with supplies of key force multipliers and communications equipment, was discussed during Mishra's visit.

Later, speaking to reporters at Press Club de France, Mishra denied that India was seeking any commitments from France that it will no longer supply weapons to Pakistan. ``My understanding is that the French are fulfilling their old contracts with Pakistan and that no new contracts are in the offing now,'' Mishra told reporters.

However, observers say that France attaches tremendous importance to its relations with India, as one of the poles of the multipolar world that the French envisage. They say that in the present scenario, where France and India are building extremely close strategic, economic and political ties, the defence relations between Pakistan and France that had existed in the 1970s and 1980s would be scaled down.

``France is now increasingly uncomfortable about the situation that it finds itself in, especially from the point of view of the vast defence contracts that it has signed with Pakistan in the past. France does not want to be seen as arming Islamic fundamentalists who are being clearly propped up by the Pakistan government. Besides, France will also find it hard to convince India of its sincerity in developing a cosy relationship, if it keeps arming Pakistan,'' say international strategic observers based in Paris.

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