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No problems if drones used against Taliban: IAF chief

January 22, 2010 19:53 IST

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, said India on Friday that had "no problems" so long as Pakistan used US-supplied 12 unarmed Shadow drones against Taliban, but remained non-committal on the possibility of Islamabad sharing its technology with China.

"So long as they are for (the fight against) Taliban, we have no problems," he told journalists who sought his reaction on reports that the US would supply Pakistan with 12 unarmed Shadow drones, which would significantly enhance the country's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The decision to supply 12 RQ-7 Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Pakistan was announced by visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates during an interaction with the local media in Pakistan.

Asked if the US decision would affect the military balance in the region, the air chief marshal said, "No, not at all".

Queried if Pakistan would share the technology with China, he said he did not know.

"You tell me," he shot back.

"How can I think of somebody else? What do you all feel? They will share or not share? I am not an authority on Pakistan psyche," the chief of air staff added.
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