Israel exports military equipment to Pakistan: Report

Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations.

Islamabad: Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets over the past five years to Pakistan and Arab countries with which it has no diplomatic relations, according to a media report on Tuesday.

The report released by Britain`s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which deals with British government permits for arms and security equipment exports, said besides Pakistan, Israel has exported military equipment to Egypt, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. In 2011, Israel sought to purchase British components to export various systems to Pakistan, including radar systems, electronic warfare systems, head-up cockpit displays (HUDs), parts for fighter jets and aircraft engines, optic target acquisition systems, components of training aircraft, and military electronic systems. In 2010, Israel applied for permits to export electronic warfare systems and HUDs with British components to Pakistan, the Haaretz newspaper quoted the British government report as saying. The report did not mention what the components would be used for though experts said they believed most of them were meant for use in the JF-17 Thunder jets developed jointly by Pakistan and China. Britain`s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills oversees security exports and publishes regular reports on permits granted or denied to purchase arms, military equipment or civilian items that are monitored because they can be put to security uses. From January 2008 to December 2012, British authorities processed hundreds of Israeli applications to purchase military items containing British components for use by the Israeli Defense Forces, or to go into systems exported to third countries. The British reports list the countries to which Israel sought to export the items. Among Israel`s clients are countries like the UAE, Morocco and Algeria, with which it does not have diplomatic ties. In 2010, Israel sought permits to supply Egypt and Morocco with Israeli electronic warfare systems and HUDs that use British parts. In 2009, Israel requested permits from British authorities to export to Algeria aerial observation systems, pilots` helmets, HUDs, radar systems and communications systems for military aircraft, military navigation systems, drone components, systems to disrupt ballistic systems, airborne radar and optical target acquisition systems. Israel also sought to export to Morocco electronic warfare systems and HUDs in 2009. In the same year, Israel sought permits to supply to the UAE components for drones, pilots` helmets, aerial refuelling systems, ground radars, components for fighter jets, systems to disrupt missile launches, airborne radar systems, and thermal imaging and electronic warfare equipment. Israel`s other clients for military exports over the past five years, according to the British report, include India, Singapore, Turkey, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan. Britain turned down Israel`s request to obtain military systems intended for export to India (aircraft engines and satellite radar) and Russia (optical target acquisition systems). PTI