In a report from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) it states that sinec Kargil India has increased its defence spending by 10% while Pakistan has cut it by 13% in real terms. Even the like of Nepal and Sri Lanka have cut their defence spending. India is the only South Asian country where defence spending has risen to astronomical levels - so who is fuelling the arms war in South Asia in pusuit of its goal to be the bully boy of the region?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...000/980113.stm
South Asia spends more on defence
India boosted its defence spending by 20% following Kargil war
By South Asia analyst Solmaz Dabiri
The international arms trade saw a general decline in 1999, but the overall defence spending in South Asia went up in real terms by 3.1%.
Defence spending
10% rise in India
13% drop in Pakistan
10% drop in Sri Lanka
20% drop in Nepal
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says in its annual report that India is the big spender in the region, with an increase of more than 10% in its military spending to $13.9bn.
Pressure on spending included the Kargil conflict with Pakistan last year.
The conflict exposed the country's lack of advanced military technology, though observers believe that the additional funds will be mainly spent on the costly deployment of the army in Kashmir rather than on the much-needed modernisation of the country's ageing weapon systems.
IISS: Pakistan has improved its missile capabilities
The report says the relations between the two neighbours showed no sign of improvement in the past year, but notes that there were few major incidents along the Indo-Pakistani border in Kashmir.
The London-based IISS also says that despite persistent concerns about an arms race, the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan were not much altered during the current year.
While Pakistan's missile capabilities have advanced, with the 2,400 km-range Shaheen 2 ready for flight-testing, says the report, its military spending dropped in real terms by 13% in 1999.
Hit by depreciation
This means that budget allocations have increased in terms of national currency, but since Pakistan imports nearly all its major military hardware, the depreciation of its currency has hit it hard.
Sri Lankan defence spending has been hard hit by depreciation
Sri Lanka seems to have suffered the same fate with a fall of 10% in its military expenditure in real terms.
Nepal's defence budget too was affected by the depreciation factor. The country spent $51m on defence in 1999 compared with $65m in 1998.
Bangladesh, which is concerned by the military build-up of its neighbours, has decided to upgrade its ageing fleet of combat aircraft and bought nine Mig-29s from Russia at a cost of more than $100m.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...000/980113.stm
South Asia spends more on defence
India boosted its defence spending by 20% following Kargil war
By South Asia analyst Solmaz Dabiri
The international arms trade saw a general decline in 1999, but the overall defence spending in South Asia went up in real terms by 3.1%.
Defence spending
10% rise in India
13% drop in Pakistan
10% drop in Sri Lanka
20% drop in Nepal
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says in its annual report that India is the big spender in the region, with an increase of more than 10% in its military spending to $13.9bn.
Pressure on spending included the Kargil conflict with Pakistan last year.
The conflict exposed the country's lack of advanced military technology, though observers believe that the additional funds will be mainly spent on the costly deployment of the army in Kashmir rather than on the much-needed modernisation of the country's ageing weapon systems.
IISS: Pakistan has improved its missile capabilities
The report says the relations between the two neighbours showed no sign of improvement in the past year, but notes that there were few major incidents along the Indo-Pakistani border in Kashmir.
The London-based IISS also says that despite persistent concerns about an arms race, the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan were not much altered during the current year.
While Pakistan's missile capabilities have advanced, with the 2,400 km-range Shaheen 2 ready for flight-testing, says the report, its military spending dropped in real terms by 13% in 1999.
Hit by depreciation
This means that budget allocations have increased in terms of national currency, but since Pakistan imports nearly all its major military hardware, the depreciation of its currency has hit it hard.
Sri Lankan defence spending has been hard hit by depreciation
Sri Lanka seems to have suffered the same fate with a fall of 10% in its military expenditure in real terms.
Nepal's defence budget too was affected by the depreciation factor. The country spent $51m on defence in 1999 compared with $65m in 1998.
Bangladesh, which is concerned by the military build-up of its neighbours, has decided to upgrade its ageing fleet of combat aircraft and bought nine Mig-29s from Russia at a cost of more than $100m.
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