Associated Press

Islamabad, July 1:

Pakistan today expressed its concern over a defence agreement signed between its rival India and the United States this week, saying it could destabilise the region’s strategic balance.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it was receiving details of the 10-year agreement signed by US Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld and his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, in Washington on Tuesday. The deal called for the expansion of two-way defence trade and missile defence collaboration, as well as enhancing capabilities to stop the spread of weapons

of mass destruction. “The induction of advanced weapons systems in the region is matter of concern for Pakistan, as it could destabilise the strategic balance in the region,” the ministry said. India in March criticised Washington when it agreed to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the move would alter the military balance and negatively affect the on going peace process between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.