Twirp : Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Republic Pakistan

[Naresh]

[center]<b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Pak announces "cut" in defence budget, wants India to follow</span></b>[/center]

Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, June 9 (PTI) Announcing "a cut" in Pakistan's defence expenditure, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today said it was a "tangible display" of its desire for peace with its neighbours and indicated that he wanted India reciprocate the move. Making a policy statement in parliament, Gilani said, "As a measure of our tangible display to seek peace with our neighbours, we have decided to freeze, actually reduce, the defence budget when seen in the context of inflation and the rupee-dollar parity.

" Without naming India, he added: "We hope to see a reciprocal gesture from our neighbour for the sake of peace and prosperity of the region." The Pakistani premier, however, did not give a figure on the proposed reduction in the defence budget which was Rs 275 billion last year and equal to nearly three per cent of the GDP.

Gilani's statement came in the backdrop of a major financial crisis faced by Pakistan. Rising global food and oil prices have fuelled double-digit inflation since Gilani's Pakistan People's Party-led coalition came to power in March.

Outlining the basic tenets of the country's security policy, Gilani said Pakistan's "defence is based on the strategy of minimum, essential and credible deterrence and that we shall not enter into any arms race". Noting that Pakistan is "located in a geo-strategically important but a turbulent region", he said, "We live and operate in a volatile environment.

We cannot, therefore, afford to remain oblivious to our defence needs. PTI

<b>Points to note :</b>

1. Pakistan's Defence Budget is about 3.2% of its GDP.

2. China's Defence Budget is about 4.2% of its GDP.

<b>In comparison India's Defence Budgetis about 2.5% of its GDP.</b>

As such the Indian Prime Minister should refute the Pakistani "Begging" India to reduce its Defence Spending and India should ensure that its Defence Budget is not less than Three Per Cent of its GDP, which for 2007-2008 is USD 1,150 Billion.

Thus India's Defence Budget should be USD 31.5 Billion.

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