India appeals to France to stop military aid by EU members to Pakistan

New Delhi: – Amid significant developments globally, France has become the President of the European Union (EU). Moreover, after sharing an excellent relationship with India, France becoming the EU President becomes a critical development. It is reported that India significantly demanded France while congratulating it for the honour. India appealed to France that it should stop the sale of weapons by the EU members to Pakistan.

Indian MEA S. Jaishankar held a telephonic discussion with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian and congratulated him. France becoming the President of the EU at such a crucial juncture is a reassuring development. Jaishankar expressed confidence that this will give the India-France strategic partnership a different aspect. France has become the President of the EU after 13 years. Moreover, sources have informed that India has made an essential demand from this close ally in this scenario.

India has demanded that keeping in view the history of Pakistan, France should try and stop the supply of weapons to this country, which has been arming terrorists and such transactions should be banned. Sweden and Italy, the members of the EU, are also supplying weapons to Pakistan. Swedish company Saab Gripen is supplying aircraft spares to the Pakistan air force and Italy is assisting Pakistan with tanks. Thus, France can play a vital role in stopping this assistance.

France has already declared that no military equipment and weapons will be supplied to Pakistan. France can make an effort to make the EU decide the same. This would corner Pakistan even more. The EU is keen on signing a free trade agreement with India. Therefore, the EU will have to take cognisance of this Indian demand.