WASIM IQBAL
ISLAMABAD: The proposed deal to purchase eight F-16 aircraft from US is still under discussion between the two countries, defence sources stated.
The US Congress has blocked a move by Washington to subsidise Pakistan’s purchase of eight Lockheed Martin Corporation’s F-16 fighter jets in what is seen as a setback for Islamabad. Without US assistance, Pakistan will have to pay almost $700 million for the aircraft; two-and-a-half times the subsidised cost of $270m.
The announcement of the deal was initially met with resistance from quite a few politicians. Senator Rand Paul was among the first to voice his concerns, he called Pakistan an “uncertain ally”.
Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a critic of USA’s continuing military aid to Pakistan. Corker told Secretary of State John Kerry in a letter that he was concerned about ‘Pakistan’s ties’ to the Haqqani network.
Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former presidential candidate, said that it would complicate USA’s relations with India and regarded the timings of the deal as bad.
Defence expert Lt-Genral Talat Masood (retd) said that many in Congress fear that the F-16 jets are more useful to Pakistan in its long confrontation with India than for counterterrorism. He recalled that the Indian criticism on the deal of F16s was unjustifiable as New Delhi was continuously purchasing latest weapons and technologies from the world, including from the US, he added.
Another defence analyst, Dr Mohammed Khan, said the Indian lobby in US congress was involved in propaganda against Pakistan. “The US and NATO depend on Pakistan due to Pakistan’s geographical location. This is their need to empower Pakistan to get positive results in war against terrorism,” he added.
At a congressional hearing, key members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee urged Pakistan to launch military “operations against the Haqqani network,” if it wants the funds.
F-16s have reportedly played a crucial role in Pakistan Army’s Zarb-e-Azb operation in northern areas against militants. The operation has now entered its last phase to wipe out the remaining militants.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a National Assembly briefing said the deal with the United States for the procurement of eight F-16 fighter jets was facing delays due to some lobbyists working against us there.
He said an Indian lobby, as well as Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, was working against us and had been lobbying against the sale. Jets which were instrumental during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb were to be used for anti-terrorist activities alongside the JF-17 Thunder, he added.
