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Pakistanis allegedly supplying defective arms-report
Friday, 29 December 2006 - 9:45 AM SL Time
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In a strategic move to operate in India`s backyard, Pakistani officials have allegedly greased the palms of some senior Sri Lankan Army officials and bureaucrats and resorted to `honeytrap` tactics to sell arms and ammunition of poor quality to Sri Lanka at exorbitant prices.
However, the lid from the brewing Sri Lankan defence scandal blew off recently when the defence forces` frustration reached the top brass after it was discovered that most of the military ware purchased from Pakistan was either sub-standard or second-hand.
A `Top Secret` note, that reached the Government of India through diplomatic channels, said the situation became grim when some of the bombs aimed at LTTE targets by the Sri Lankan Air Force turned out to be dummies and fell in the target areas like stones.
A major problem area for the Lankan forces has been Pakistan-supplied electronic fuses, which are crucial components in bombs. Of the 500 electronic fuses supplied, 200 were found to be faulty.
After Colombo took up the matter with Islamabad, the Pakistan Government reluctantly agreed to take back the remaining electronic fuses and sent a specially chartered AN-32 transport plane with the replacement.
Lankan forces` personnel are openly talking in diplomatic circuits that Pakistani supplies were actually killing them more than the LTTE. The Tigers are able to fight more effectively with small arms compared with the dummy heavy ammunition supplied to the Lankan forces by Pakistan.So far, Sri Lankan defence forces have purchased military ware worth $30 million from Pakistan.
A repeat supply of the above merchandise has been ordered. Purchases in the pipeline include second-hand tanks (22 Al Zarar) worth over $ 80 million, armoured vehicles and jeeps. The Pakistanis are aggressively pushing for the defence supplies at the Sri Lankan defence HQ and Pakistani arms agents are making frequent trips to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is looking to make purchases worth $ 100 million from Pakistan in the coming few months. The deal size may even go up to a cumulative figure of $ 250 million in the next 18 months.
Pakistan currently exports a tiny $ 200 million worth of arms. The possibility of such large orders flowing in from a single country (Sri Lanka) has made the Pakistani military machinery hyperactive.
Pakistan is making a killing in its arms supplies to Sri Lanka. That is because some of the spares that they have supplied to Sri Lanka have been procured from Ukraine and a few other Central Asian countries. Moreover, Pakistani spares` supplies of $ 6.9 million made to Sri Lanka in last few weeks were actually sourced by HIT-Pakistan (Heavy Industries Taxila) from Ukraine at $3 million and re-exported to Colombo.
So far, $ 5 million have been paid to corrupt Lankan officials by Pakistan. The sleaze money has been deposited in a tax haven country, most likely St Kitts.
Commission paid to the defence agent representing Pakistan in Sri Lanka is 20-25 per cent. Of this 15-20 per cent flows as kickbacks to the Sri Lankan officials.
Sri Lanka buys arms from Pakistan because Colombo has scouted around for meeting its spares` demand, but few are willing to make supplies. It is against this backdrop that the Pakistanis, who themselves are facing spares crunch, have moved in quickly to fill the void.
India cannot make military exports to Sri Lanka for obvious political reasons.
The Pakistanis are, in fact, procuring spares and ammunition from third countries and re-exporting some of these to Sri Lanka at inflated costs.
Pakistan defence companies are paying huge kickbacks to certain willing and corrupt Sri Lankan officials. It is estimated that bribes worth $ 15 million is likely to change hands in the immediate few months for the next batch of Pakistani arms exports to Sri Lanka. The kickback figure will go substantially higher if the deal size goes up to $ 250 million.
Some of the sleaze money actually flows back to Pakistani officials.
The Sri Lankan government is likely to order a probe into the defence scam soon. -Tribune News Service
Govt. denies
The Government last night denied the allegation published in the Tribune News Service that Pakistan has given bribes to Sri Lankan officials to sell defective arms.
`The Government is committed to a cordial relationship with the Pakistan Government,` Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
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AnuD
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 29 Dec 2006 03:58:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Amazing.
Very well written fiction, no any figures, names or any other information to prove the case though.
The journalist should be a well known story Writer.
Author deserves an International prize, may be another $ 100,000. |
Mucha-linda
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 29 Dec 2006 04:18:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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In a strategic move to operate in India's backyard, Pakistani officials have allegedly greased the palms of some senior Sri Lankan Army officials and bureaucrats and resorted to 'honeytrap' tactics to sell arms and ammunition of poor quality to Sri Lanka at exorbitant prices.
This paragraph does not make any sense to me. Adopting a strategic move to operate in India's backyard is one thing. Resorting to honeytrap tactics to sell poor quality arms is a different thing.
If what said is that Pakistanis have made a strategic move to sell arms to SL with the aim of operating in the backyard of India, it might have make some sense. But then again, it is not a news, since Pakistanis were doing that for some time now.
Of course, selling arms to Sri Lanka is a strategic move by Paks. But it has nothing to do with the rest of the article (including its heading) which is about a scandal. That 'strategic move' part must have just added to re-annoy India.
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whatreallyhap
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 29 Dec 2006 04:20:21 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD
I think your president is an even better story teller.
Infact every S Lankan is a story teller. Fiction is the title of choice.
I heard MR is writing a book called How to fool em everytime and get away with it.
When it comes to arms deal you should ask MR's brother. He has the full details.I am sure he will be telling another story soon. |
Dinuk
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 29 Dec 2006 04:34:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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This was written by some Indian Journalist with complete jealousy. we all know that Indians had problems with Pakistanis.
Edited By - Dinuk - 29 Dec 2006 04:37:35 GMT |
raigamakolla
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 29 Dec 2006 05:22:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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Here it goes, again, again, and again.
Shady arms deals don't make news in sri lanka anymore. Because it has become the established practice. No tender, no feasibility study, no need assessement, and probably no documents to prove anything in the end.
In other countries mistakes are made and then they learn from them quickly and avoid making the same sort of mistakes.
We never learn.
When news like this comes up it is necessary to invesgiate them and establish facts. Take those responsible to task.
In fact, it is a good idea to set up a permenant maltinational investigation unit in Colombo, may be under the guide of Auditor General, to look into these types of transactions. This is particularly important because the Auditor General is not equiped to do this type of investigations. And further, local auditors can be intimidated. |
AnuD
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29 Dec 2006 05:30:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Good part of this news report is Bunker busters, Fuel bombs and Deep penetration bombs are coming. |
ahmadineja
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 29 Dec 2006 05:46:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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There is only one question to ask from this reporter of this news.
'If Pakistan's will is to secretly operate in the backyard of India, why do they opt for a dumb option like selling some third-rate weapons to Sri Lanka???' When the truth is found, it will backfire against their faces. So if Pakistan genuinely wants to exploit the situation, they would have sold genuine weapons, not bad ones.If the reporter says that this is is intelligence, even a kid would know how stupid a plan that one is.
I guess the news writer assumed himself to be more intelligent than his/her readers!! Well, all your effort is gone futile BIG TIME. Sorry.
Edited By - ahmadineja - 29 Dec 2006 05:51:47 GMT |
Damayanthi
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29 Dec 2006 05:47:39 GMT Report for Abuse
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Whatreally..
You have forgotten the best story teller, Anton Stanilaus alias Dr Anton Balasingham, the self proclaimed professional who even wrote story books about self-determination! All the vile dreams of illiterate VP were made into stories (including Tamil homeland, LTTE, the sole representative of Tamils) by him! |
Jinadasa
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 29 Dec 2006 06:15:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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Who wrote this? That World Socialist group or B. Raman? Where are the sources for the information this person is getting?
Sri Lanka needs to set up strict accountability for the agents who make these deals. Sentence them to 20 years in prison if the weapons don't work. |
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