2024-04-17 03:00:43
Washington: Pakistan continued its nuclear modernization efforts last year despite economic turmoil and its contentious relationship with India that is driving its defense policy, a top US intelligence official told Congress. Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse made these comments during a meeting regarding China on Monday. Kruse told lawmakers that Pakistan has sought support from the UN Security Council and various countries to resolve its dispute with India over Kashmir.
Pakistan is making weapons due to dispute with India!
He said that an uneasy ceasefire is in place on the Line of Control between Pakistan and India since February 2021. “Pakistan has continued its nuclear modernization efforts despite economic turmoil. Last year also saw an increase in terrorist violence against Pakistani security forces and civilians,” he said. Cruz told top US lawmakers that Pakistan’s contentious relationship with India is affecting its defense policy. He said, however, that cross-border violence between the two countries has declined since the ceasefire in February 2021.
India has reduced its dependence on Russia: Kruse
Jeffrey Krause also told the US Parliament that in the year 2023, India will take steps to modernize its military with the aim of competing with China and reducing its dependence on Russian equipment. “Last year, India participated in the G-20,” Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse told members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Subcommittee during a parliamentary meeting on defense intelligence to counter China. “Has demonstrated itself as a global leader by hosting the 2015 Economic Summit and has demonstrated its willingness to counter PRC (People’s Republic of China) activity across the Indo-Pacific region.”
India is strengthening cooperation against China
He said India has advanced partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region with regional South China Sea claimants like the Philippines through training and defense sales and has further strengthened its cooperation with the US, Australia, France and Japan. “In 2023, India will take steps to modernize its military to compete with China and reduce its dependence on Russian equipment,” Kruse said. India conducted sea trials of an indigenously built aircraft carrier and has also held talks with several western countries on transfer of key defense technologies.