Islamabad: Indicating an arms race, Pakistan has asked US to supply it airborne radars, F-16s, Unmanned aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Cobra helicopters "to restore the weapons balance" in South Asia as India is set to acquire the latest Israeli Phalcon radar systems.

"Pakistan believes that a conventional balance was the key to maintaining peace between India and Pakistan and the nuclear threshold would come down if this balance was disturbed," Pakistan Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan said on his arrival from Washington after attending the four- day Pak-US Defence Co-ordination Group meet.

Khan, who headed the Pakistan delegation, was quoted as saying by local daily 'Dawn' that he believes the US also realises that if the conventional capability goes down, it also brings down the nuclear threshold. "The US understands that a conventional balance is key to maintaining peace in South Asia," he added.

Khan said during his talks with US officials, including US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, he has urged the Bush administration to consider selling more F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan.

Asked as to why Pakistan was so anxious to acquire the F-16s, Khan said, "Recent Israeli sales to India have disturbed the conventional balance."

"We told the Americans that you must restore the balance. We should also get similar equipment for balance. We believe that the US should have stopped Israel from selling the Phalcon Early Warning System to India."

"But now that the sale is taking place, it is important that the conventional balance is maintained. It is absolutely essential for our Defence," he said.

The US response was not known immediately, but a joint statement issued after the talks that ended did not mention the aircraft nor any specific equipment for Pakistan.

PTI