Pak’s defence budget pales in comparison to India’s, says spokesman
March 14th, 2011 - 2:05 pm ICT by ANIIslamabad, Mar 14(ANI): Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas has said his country is allocating only four billion dollars to defence whereas India’s defence budget is 36 billion dollars.
Talking to a television channel, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major-General Abbas said the usage of funds in civilian departments should be streamlined instead of raising objections to Pakistan’s defence budget.
“We have to look at the capability of the enemy before designing our preparedness. We would have to see that what kinds of weapons it is making. Keeping in view all the facts, the defence budget as well as the armed forces’ ability is adjusted,” The Nation quoted Abbas, as saying.
He said the army performs its duties “within the framework given by the sitting government”, and that ascertaining the size of the army is also the government’s job.
“The Army has to prepare itself according to defence capabilities of the enemy. No army in the world can disclose its development budget to the public,” said General Abbas.
“If the civilian government considers that they could diminish the perils through negotiations with India, then a reduction in the Army could take place,” he added.
General Athar alleged that several agencies from some hostile countries had been striving to create a gap with between the army and the public in Pakistan.
“Anti-Pakistan elements are trying to prove that the Army is a burden on the national development by criticizing the armed forces,” he said
“The conspirators are saying that the funds related to defence could be used for prosperity of the country,” he added. (ANI)
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Tags: abbas, army spokesman, athar, billion dollars, civilian government, conspirators, defence budget, defence capabilities, development budget, director general, gap, hostile countries, inter services, ispr, objections, pakistan army, perils, preparedness, prosperity, television channel