Islamabad, Dec 18 (DPA) Pakistan has reached agreement with China to buy modern Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes for extended surveillance of its airspace, a media report said Thursday.
Under the $278-million deal, the unmanned surveillance aircraft will be delivered to Pakistan during the next four years on a deferred payment basis, The News reported.
Pakistani Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi presented the details of the agreement to the country’s lower house of parliament Wednesday.
The report came as tensions between Pakistan and India are intensifying following last month’s Mumbai terrorist attacks, which New Delhi believes were carried out by Pakistan-based Islamic militants.
Islamabad has claimed that two Indian jet fighters violated its airspace last week. The Foreign Office Thursday summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to convey concerns over the “technical and air space violations by Indian aircraft” on Dec 12 and 13.
India has denied any violation of Pakistan’s airspace.