Dhaka: Pakistan on September 10 said that the Indo-Israel military co-operation and sale of weapons by Israel to India is aimed at changing the strategic balance in South Asia.

Commenting on military co-operation between India and Israel, in focus during Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to India, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said, "By visits of that nature in which the primary purpose seems to be the sale of ultra-modern and strategic weaponry aimed at disturbing the balance of power in South Asia, ultimately it will be the poor people of South Asia who will pay."

"To that extent I think it is most unfortunate," he added while talking to reporters after his talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart M Morshed Khan.

He said his country wanted friendly ties with all South Asian nations, including India, which in co- operation with Israel is trying to change the strategic balance in the region by building ultra-modern weaponry.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister, who is on a three-day visit to Dhaka, blamed India for building wide- ranging sophisticated weapons and strategic defence system. He, however, said Pakistan is in a position to defend itself.

"We don' have any aggressive intention, we are determined not to compete with India...But we will have minimum credible deterrent to defend ourselves," Kasuri said.

Officials said both Kasuri and Khan discussed matters relating to South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). Later, he called on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at her office and handed over a letter from Pakistan Prime Minister Zafrullah Khan Jamali inviting the Bangladesh leader to the next SAARC summit to be held in Pakistan.

PTI