Lanka should not turn to China, Pakistan for arms: NSA

MK Narayanan asserted that Sri Lanka should source its military requirements only from India and not China or Pakistan, reports G C Shekhar.

National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan on Thursday asserted that Sri Lanka should source its military requirements only from India and not China or Pakistan. At the same time he declared that India would not provide any ‘offensive’ weaponry to the embattled island nation.

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“Whatever their requirements, they should come to us. We will give what is necessary,” he said, after a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Narayanan did not explain how India could meet Lanka’s military needs when it was against providing arms. His observation comes in the wake of reports that Lanka had conveyed to India that it might have to approach China and Pakistan, if India was unable to provide arms.

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