Stanford CIS

Spurring an Arms Race in South Asia

By Stanford Center for Internet and Society on
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Tom Friedman laments the "pacifist" EU's decision to sell arms to China.  He might also lament our own decision to sell arms--including F-16s--to Pakistan:

According to the Pakistani paper Dawn, "Such weapons include F-16 aircraft, anti-tank weapons, and other defence systems that Pakistan is seeking to offset Indian capabilities."

At the same time, the U.S. is negotiating to sell Patriot anti-missile defense systems--and perhaps other major arms--to India.  India, of course, seeks these to protect itself from Pakistan.  But the Pakistanis see the sales as destroying nuclear deterrence.   And the Chinese complain that it upsets the regional balance.

All great for American (and European) defense contractors, but sad for the poor people of South Asia.

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