Sri Lanka to buy eight JF-17s rejecting Indian pressure

Eight agreements and MoUs signed in different sectors, including defence; Nawaz says his vision is a dispute-free zone where all nations fight common enemies such as illiteracy, poverty and malnutrition; sleeper cells of militants dealt a strong blow; Operation Zarb-e-Azb in final stage

COLOMBO: Pakistan will sell eight combat JF-17 Thunder aircraft to Sri Lanka under an agreement signed during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the country on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankan media reported on Tuesday that their country’s leadership had rejected Indian pressure not to buy JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan.Sri Lanka will be the first country to purchase JF-17s from Pakistan. Authorities say the order will be ready by the end of 2017.

The multi-roll fighter aircraft is the joint production of Pakistan and China.Defence officials accompanying the prime minister said both countries signed an agreement in Colombo. Pakistan will provide eight planes in the first phase.

Earlier, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed eight agreements and MoUs in Colombo on Tuesday.These are related to defence, security, anti-terrorism, trade and science and technology.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena were present at the ceremony of signing agreements.Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz Sharif said there were vast opportunities for bilateral trade and the quantum of trade will be taken to $1 billion annually.

He said Pakistan was cooperating with Sri Lanka in the defence sector and the two countries will work together to choke financial assistance to terrorists.The prime minister said the two countries intend to strengthen bilateral relations as they have unanimity of views on international and regional issues.

Nawaz Sharif said his visit was reflective of a close relationship between the two countries.He said Pakistan was ready to give Sri Lanka the most favoured nation (MFN) status in trade.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sri Lankan president said his country enjoyed a close relationship with Pakistan in all sectors.He said the Sri Lankan people acknowledged the role of Nawaz Sharif in promotion of bilateral relations.

He said the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had created political stability in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed eight agreements and MoUs.These are related to defence, security, anti-terrorism, trade and science and technology.

Meanwhile, addressing a gathering of intellectuals, parliamentarians and diplomats on the topic ‘Pakistan-Sri Lanka Relations,’ Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said his vision for South Asia was a dispute-free zone where all the nations jointly fought against their common enemies of illiteracy, poverty and malnutrition.

“South Asia needs strategic stability. We should build convergences and need dialogue for the betterment of region,” the prime minister said in the lecture delivered on the special invitation of Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies here.

He said it was time for South Asian countries to focus their energies on better preparing themselves to handle the global challenges.Nawaz Sharif said ‘cooperation not confrontation’ was his government’s policy and he believed in promoting harmony with all South Asian countries.

He mentioned that he took the initiative to normalize relations with India and flew to New Delhi to attend the inaugural ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Besides, he said at the UN General Assembly forum, he floated a four-point feasible agenda for restoration of peaceful relations between Pakistan and India.

Nawaz Sharif recalled that he was also deeply touched by Modi’s decision to fly to Lahore last month on his way back from Afghanistan and in next few days the foreign secretaries of the two countries would meet in Islamabad.

About Afghanistan, he said Pakistan believed that a peaceful Afghanistan was in its interest and termed terrorism a common enemy of both countries.He said Pakistan had consistently been supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned government and was ready for continued support for resumption of peace dialogue between the Afghan government and Taliban.

The prime minister said his government was implementing the true spirit of democracy and had devised a comprehensive development programme of `Four Es’ – promoting Education, eliminating extremism, overcoming the energy shortage and strengthening the economy.

He emphasized that all strategies were being pursued with due fairness and transparency.He said Pakistan was waging a comprehensive war against terrorism that included striking at sanctuaries and hideouts of terrorists in tribal areas.

He mentioned that through intelligence-based information, his government had struck a strong blow to the sleeper cells of militants and the operation Zarb-e-Azb was in final stage being carried out by the country’s valiant forces.

Nawaz Sharif said success in restoration of peace was not possible without the resolve of the nation and its continued resilience.He said radicalization and global terrorism could not be eliminated until its root cause was addressed.

The prime minister said Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoyed special and deep-rooted relations based on several commonalities.He said the people of Sri Lanka were close to the heart of people of Pakistan and appreciated the support extended by Sri Lanka to Pakistan at regional and international fora.

He highlighted the steps taken by his government including economic reforms that resulted in increase of GDP and tax revenues, and reduction in inflation and budget deficit.He mentioned that leading international publication, fund managers and rating agencies including Bloomberg and Moody’s had given positive assessments about Pakistan’s economy.

Nawaz Sharif highlighted the focus of his government on regional and international connectivity and mentioned the recently launched China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which included a multiple package of development projects worth 46 billion dollar.

He said Pakistan would soon turn into a strategic gateway of the regional economy.He mentioned that Pakistan was also promoting other regional energy and connectivity projects including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline,  Central Asia South Asia (CASA 1000), and the Torkham-Jalalabad Road in Afghanistan.Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangla Samaraweera highlighted the level of close collaboration between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in diverse fields.