Article Posted on : - Dec 30, 2009

A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): The government is "closely" monitoring the sale of arms to Pakistan by China, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said on Wednesday.

Along with the statement, also came the assurance that there was peace and tranquillity at India China border.

"All these developments are closely monitored by the External Affairs Ministry, by the Defence Ministry and various other ministries and the Prime Minister. So, let us not get into yet another speculative area," he said.

He was replying to a query on China selling arms to Pakistan and if this would lead to an arms race in the region.

China had recently sought to defend its sale of submarines and warships to Pakistan, contending that even India was seeking military equipment from US and Russia.

Maintaining that India desires to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Sino-India border, Krishna said "I have said and I would like to repeat again in the dying days of 2009 that India China border is peaceful, they are tranquil.

"It is India's desire to maintain peace and tranquillity at our borders and we will continue to do that".

Chief of Pakistan's naval staff Noman Bashir, who was on a visit to China recently had talks with Chinese officials for the purchase of more JF-17 fighter planes and bigger ships than the F22P frigates, currently ordered by Pakistan.