According to a report in The Nation on September 17, despite public perception and official claims of US supplying Pakistan with substantive military hardware, Washington is actually impeding Pakistan's efforts to upgrade its weapons capabilities especially in the realm of non-offensive systems. As reported, the US first tried unsuccessfully to block the deal we were having with Ukraine for purchasing air-to-air refuellers and later even impounded the Ukrainian plane in US which was to be sent to Pakistan to train PAF personnel in the refuelling techniques. As to the question whether the US is our friend or foe, I would say it is less of a friend and more of a foe. S.R.H. HASHMI, Karachi, September 18.