GoSL orders emergency Pak military supplies

(April 04, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Government of Sri Lanka has ordered emergency military supplies from Pakistan in a bid to tackle resistance from the fighters of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam( Tamil Tiger) , the media here on Thursday quoted official sources as saying in New Delhi.

In a development noted with some concern by the Indian establishment, the Sri Lanka Army has sought 150,000 rounds of 60mm mortar ammunition and as many hand grenades for immediate delivery, the Media reported here.

Sri Lanka has also requested $25 million worth of 81 mm, 120 mm and 130 mm mortar ammunition to be delivered within a month.

Sri Lankan army chief General Sarath Fonseka spent six days in India last month and conveyed the requirements to his Pakistani counterpart, General Ashraf Pervez Kayani.

The Pakistani military has agreed to supply the ammunition on an emergency basis from its War Wastage Reserve, maintained at several army depots.

The SOS comes amid escalating fighting in Sri Lanka where the military is desperately trying to gain control of northern territory held by the LTTE.

Resistance from LTTE has pushed Sri Lanka to turn to Pakistan, to make up ammunition stocks, the Indian sources claimed.

Military ties: Sri Lanka started buying arms and ammunition from Pakistan from 1999. The total purchases up to December 2007 were worth $50 million.

There has been a sharp increase in the quantity of merchandise ordered this year.

Pakistan’s main military supplies to Sri Lanka include mortar ammunition, radio sets, hand grenades, naval ammunition and tanks.

The military links between Islamabad and Colombo worry New Delhi because it allows Pakistan access to Sri Lankan defence and intelligence establishments.

Analysts here fear the alliance could hurt Indian security interests in the long run.

India mainly provides what it calls ‘non-lethal’ military supplies to Sri Lanka.

New Delhi has publicly expressed displeasure over Sri Lanka’s military purchases from Pakistan and China.

Sri Lankan officials argue that they are free to purchase weapons from any country they choses, as India refuses to provide it with lethal weapons. Colombo says it keeps New Delhi informed about what is purchased.

Members of the Indian establishment are concerned that with so much military hardware pouring into Sri Lanka, the war in the island is unlikely to end any time soon.
- Sri Lanka Guardian