Pakistan Warned by Soviets on U.S. Arms for Afghan Rebels
MOSCOW — The Soviet Union warned Pakistan Monday it could suffer “disastrous” consequences if Washington steps up the war in Afghanistan by giving new anti-aircraft missiles to rebels based in Pakistan.
“The U.S. administration is intensifying its policy of breeding regional conflicts and blocking peaceful settlement in the trouble spots of the world,” the official Tass news agency said.
The attack on the United States was prompted by reports that the Reagan Administration had already approved supplying Stinger missiles to anti-communist rebels in Angola and was expected to take a similar step this week for Afghan rebels.
“The Zia ul-Haq regime should realize into what dangerous ventures Pakistan’s overseas patrons are trying to draw that country, for the results of it could be disastrous,” Tass said.
The Afghan rebels, operating from their Pakistan bases, have appealed repeatedly for modern anti-aircraft missiles to counter the increasing Soviet reliance on helicopters as troop transports and gunships.
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