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US Probes Sale Of Equipment to Pakistan

J M Shenoy in Boston

A major American multinational firm, whose Canadian branch supplied commercial radio equipment to Pakistan for over a year, has been under investigation for violation of American laws.

Washington cracked down on military exports to Pakistan last year after it tested five nuclear devices. Tensions between Washington and Islamabad heightened this year in the wake of the failed Kargil invasion and October's military coup in Pakistan.

Lionel Leveille, the chief of Raytheon in Canada, told reporters that his firm began deliveries to Pakistan under a much-publicized contract roughly two years ago. But it suspended all shipments at the US government's request six months after the exports began and after about half of the order had been filled because it did not want to upset its biggest customer -- the US.

With solutions to complex problems that cover air, land and sea, Raytheon's core businesses span defense and commercial electronics, business aviation and special mission aircraft, and engineering and construction. Raytheon is one of the world's leading diversified technology companies, with worldwide sales of more than $ 19 billion in 1998 and over 100,000 employees in more than 80 countries.

In the United States, its products and services are sold to the armed forces, to NASA and several semi-defense organizations.

The investigation, which began about 18 months, is still continuing, Leveille said, adding that he is unsure about the reason for the extended probe.

Leveille said he is confused what the probe was about, adding that everything was done legally and the deal was announced when a Canadian trade mission had visited Pakistan and India four years ago.

The mission was led by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the provincial premiers and was part of $ 5.5 billion worth of deals announced then.

The "troposcatter radio equipment" supplied by Raytheon to Islamabad is a modified military two-way communications device for use in emergencies like earthquakes.

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