DHAKA: With its defence ties with India growing at a rapid pace, Israel on Sunday asserted that it will not supply any weapons systems and military hardware to Pakistan, saying the policy in this regard was ‘very clear’ and ‘strict’.

India’s Israeli ambassador Alon Ushpiz said his country follows very strict guidelines in exporting weapons systems and there was no question of reversing its policy of not supplying military hardware to Pakistan.

‘The policy of government of Israel is (very clear) and we are tremendously strict about it that we do not export weapons system to Pakistan,’ he said, reports The Times of India.

A report by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper in June had quoted a British government report saying Israel exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets, over the past five years to Pakistan.

Israel had strongly rejected the report, saying it would ‘not do anything that could undermine’ India’s security.

‘Very specifically we do not export weapons system to Pakistan. We have a very strict set of regulations for exporting. It is very, very sophisticated process and different agencies are engaged in that. India is a close friend,’ he said, replying to a question on the report by the Israeli newspaper.

BDST: 2038 HRS, SEPT 15, 2013
RoR/RK