India Warns U.S. on Pakistan Arms Sales : Military: New Delhi’s foreign minister says commercial deals are forcing his nation to reassess its national security.

India’s foreign minister cautioned Tuesday that revelations of continued U.S. arms sales to Pakistan have distressed his country and are forcing it to reassess its national security.

J. N. Dixit, the foreign minister, said he plans to discuss the sales with U.S. officials and will seek an explanation. But he told reporters at a breakfast session that he will not protest the policy permitting the sales.

“It is a bilateral matter as far as we are concerned between Pakistan and the United States,” Dixit said. “It is not for India to go protesting decisions by the U.S. government.”

But he also said he will advise U.S. officials that India may have to take action of its own to counterbalance Pakistan’s arms purchases. He said India hopes that the United States will understand its position, but he made it clear that his government will not be deterred by American objections.

Dixit’s remarks were in response to disclosures last week that the Bush Administration has permitted commercial sales of military goods to Pakistan by American firms.

Among the more than $100 million worth of arms sold in 1990-91 were spare parts for Pakistan’s U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter-bombers.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the two nations gained their independence in 1947, when the former British India was partitioned. They have exchanged artillery shells on numerous other occasions. Neither country has signed the international treaty limiting the spread of nuclear arms, and Administration officials have expressed concern in recent weeks about efforts by both countries to develop nuclear weapons.

Dixit said that India wants bilateral discussions with the United States about ways to prevent the spread of nuclear arms. But he said his government will never sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty because it believes the pact was intended to preserve a nuclear arms monopoly for the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. He said the treaty discriminates against all other nations.

Last month, Pakistan’s foreign minister acknowledged to diplomats at the United Nations that his country has the capability to assemble at least one nuclear bomb. India also has admitted possessing the components for nuclear weapons.

Dixit said his government has known since 1987 that Pakistan had a nuclear weapons capability. He said that New Delhi did not protest publicly because the government was waiting for the United States and other nations to lead the protest.

Dixit is in Washington for talks this week.