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August 29, 2001
0230 IST

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Chinese arms supply to Pak matter of concern: Jaswant

India on Tuesday said it has lost no opportunity in expressing its displeasure to Beijing over its arms supply to Islamabad even as there was 'forward movement' in the Sino-Indian relations.

Arms supply by China to Pakistan 'is a matter of great worry' to India, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told the Rajya Sabha replying to a short duration discussion on the country's security scenario.

"China has repeatedly been saying that whatever arms supplies it was making to Pakistan were in accordance with international law, but I am not satisfied," he said.

Elaborating on the progress being made on the border issue, Singh said for the first time, the two countries exchanged maps last year on a portion of the border along the Line of Control.

Besides, for the first time India and China have been engaged in security dialogue, he said.

Referring to Pakistan's nuclear programme, Singh said that within 15 days of India's nuclear test in May 1998, Islamabad had carried out its tests indicating that it had acquired its nuclear capability not overnight.

The very fact that the tests involved rock drilling went to show that adequate preparations were made much ahead, he said.

Singh said it was a well known fact that Pakistan had acquired nuclear capability at least ten years ago.

Refuting the opposition charge that NDA government's foreign policy was 'Pak-centric and reactive', Singh said India on its own had taken several initiatives including steps to improve relations with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Iran.

He said it was at India's behest that UN resolution 1333 was adopted imposing sanctions against Talibans in Afghanistan.

He also charged the Taliban regime of violating the assurance given to India not to allow the released militants during the Kandahar hijacking to go beyond Kabul.

Regarding the opposition criticism that he had shook hands with militants during the hijacking, he said he had to do so as it was the question of the lives of 177 passengers.

Singh said India continued to support Rabbani regime in Afghanistan, which New Delhi believed continued to have hold over northern command.

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