In an interview to the French daily, Le Figaro, Fernandes described the sale of eight Mirage-5 fighter aircraft and a submarine to Pakistan as ``a serious error'' on the part of the French.

In Paris today, the outcome of the nearly five hours of wide-ranging discussions that Foreign Secretary K Raghunath had with hisFrench counterpart, the Secretary General of the Foreign Office, Loic Hennekine, was clearly positive and in tune with the position adopted by the G-8 group of industrialised nations last week.

During the talks, the French gave their most explicit delineation of support for the Indian position by indicating that Pakistan should withdraw its infiltrators from Kargil. The French also appreciated India's matureand restrained handling of the Kargil crisis and expressed the view that Pakistan should respect the sanctity of the Line of Control (Loc).

Despite the very positive signals emanating from Paris, Fernandes had delivered a sharp rap on the knuckles for the ``serious error'' the French are making in supplying military hardware to Pakistan. In New Delhi, officials did not see anything amiss in Fernandes's criticism of France's decision taken as far back as 1996 to sell the Mirage-5 planes to Pakistan. The news of the sale had evoked numerous queries here and yesterday Defence officials had dismissed the development as being part of an agreement signed four years ago between Islamabad and Paris.

Analysts here say that while they understand why France may be unwilling to give up a lucrative deal, given its emerging relationship with India, the French should at least defer delivery of the Mirages. Asked for the official reaction to Fernandes's comments, especially at a time when France was strongly waving theflag for India, an MEA official said in the present context Fernandes was expressing ``from a defence perspective'' India's concerns about sales of sophisticated military hardware to Pakistan.

Even in the worst days of international disapprobation over the Pokharan tests, France's was the lone Western voice insisting that India should not be punished as it had not violated any international treaty. Since then India has struck up a ``strategic dialogue'' with France, led by Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra and top French diplomat Gerard Errera, which has already undergone several positive rounds resulting in an upswing in bilateral relations between India and France.

Only last month, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had visited Paris and had extensive discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Minister H Vedrine, as well as with French President Jacques Chirac. While India is consolidating its gains in the international arena with even the recalcitrant Japan showing a shift in itsposition in India's favour, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has drawn a blank in China.

Sharif returned empty-handed after his talks with the Chinese leadership failed to yield the kind of response the Pakistanis were seeking. Sharif had separate discussions with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, top leader Li Peng and Prime Minister Zhu Ronji, giving his version of events in Kargil. But China came out with an even-handed response, describing both India and Pakistan as ``important countries in the region'' which should resolve their differences mutually. As international pressure on Pakistan intensifies, Sharif had nurtured hopes that old friend China would come to his rescue. If Islamabad had hoped that China would call for a ``ceasefire'', it must be sorely disappointed.

The Chinese even-handedness implies that Beijing is unwilling to name the aggressor but at the same time is not prepared to throw a rope to a floundering Pakistan. And in another shot in the arm for India, Japan too has called forrestoration of the sanctity of the LoC. Marking a slight easing of its recent cussedness towards India, Tokyo today said Pakistan should respect the LoC.