Jaishankar exposes EU double-standard: The weapons Pakistan got from Europe
External Affairs minister S Jaishankar while speaking at an event in Finland hit out at European double standards over India’s purchase of energy from Russia. Jaishankar stated that European countries ignore their own track record of supplying weapons, which have been used against India.Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many European countries constantly criticise India for buying Russian crude oil. India has maintained its stance on energy imports, which are guided by countries national interest and to ensure affordable energy supply. New Delhi has also countered EU nations by stating that Europe has procured more Russian energy than India as well as countering European nations by stating that they have been procuring the same Russian oil from Indian refineries.“Europeans sell weapons which are used to attack India. Not now, for many, years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe. So, I think that’s a reasonable point.” , he said at a discussion on emerging powers and the new geopolitical competition at Kultaranta Talks in the Nordic nation.
Jaishankar also pointed out that several European countries have supplied military equipment which played a significant role in strengthening Pakistan’s military capabilities against India. While the scale of the defence export to Pakistan by European countries varied over the decades, the continent was a major defence supplier of Pakistan before China emerged as Islamabad’s principal arms supplier.According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Turkey and Ukraine have all supplied major military equipment to Pakistan at various points in time.Major contributors:-· France: France has been Pakistan’s most significant European defence supplier, Since 1960’s Paris has supplied Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fighter aircraft, including various air-to-air and anti-ship missiles with it. It has also supplied Agosta-70 and 90B Submarines to Islamabad.· United Kingdom: London has supplied naval and anti-tank systems to Pakistan. Sea king and lynx helicopters served with Pakistan’s navy in maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.· Sweden: Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Pakistan, which significantly enhanced Islamabad air surveillance and command and control capabilities.· Italy: While Italian OTO Melara naval guns are installed on several Pakistan naval vessels along with other electronic and shipborne systems. The Pakistani Air and army operates AW 139 helicopters.· Germany: Berlin contribution has largely come through naval technology and defence-industrial cooperation. German firms supplied marine engines, propulsion systems, sensors, ship components and submarine-related technologies that supported Pakistan’s naval modernisation.
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Should European countries reassess their arms exports to nations like Pakistan?
· Türkiye: In recent years, Ankara has become one of Pakistan’s closed defence partners. It supplied MILGEM/ Babur-class corvettes to Pakistan and also helped in modernizing Pakistan’s Agosta-90B submarines. Pakistan has also acquired Bayraktar TB2 armed drones from Türkiye and has also collaborated with Turkish firms on drone technologies, sensors and military electronics.· Ukraine: Kyiv has supplied Pakistan 320 T-80UD main battle tanks, along with 6TD-series tank engines which become integral to Pakistan’s Al-Khalid tank programme. They significantly boosted Pakistan’s armoured warfare capabilities.While China is now the dominant arms supplier to Pakistan, Europeans defence exports to Pakistan has played a crucial role in shaping the power dynamics in the Indian subcontinent. EAM Jaishankar has pointed to Europe’s hypocrisy over questioning India, which is sourcing cheap energy for its masses, while at the same time arming a belligerent nation.
