Thursday, March 17 2005 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (March 17, 2005) said the supply of weapons including F-16 fighter planes, by US to Pakistan could impact composite dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

"At this juncture when a composite dialogue is on, historic bus journey between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar about to begin and voluntary reduction of troops carried out by India in Jammu and Kashmir, supply of lethal arms to Pakistan could have an impact," Mukherjee told newsmen in New Delhi.

"We have expressed our concern to the US Secretary of State in this regard during the Indo-US talks yesterday," he said.

On the US offer of sale of F-16's to India, Mukherjee said the acquisition of these multi-role fighters had figured in the talks. But the proposal is at an early stage, he added.

The US side is yet to respond to our request for information on sales, he said on the sidelines of a function to flag off a Nehru Mountaineering expedition to 8,012-metre peak Mt Shisha Pangma in Central Tibet.

On whether the proposal to acquire six scorpene Hunter-Killer class submarines would be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, the Defence Minister said as and when an decision was taken, it would be made known.