Top United States lawmakers have urged the Barack Obama administration to reconsider its decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan,as General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon could be used against India and not in fighting terrorism as claimed by Nawaz Sharif government.There are several issues worrying lawmakers. One is the end use of the jets. Several members expressed concerns that F-16s could, and would, be used against India.
Republican representative for Arizona’s Matt Salmon, along with other lawmakers, raised the issue at the Congressional hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday, convened by the Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific of the House Foreign Affairs Committee wherein the Obama Administration was represented by the Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson.
Already India has opposed US selling of eight F-16 fighter jets worth $700 million to Pakistan. Salmon asked Olson to clarify the underlying purpose and timing of the intended sale and how is it in the best interest of the United States.
Congressman Matt Salmon pointed to the fact that as “Indo-Pak tensions are at a peak and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan as asserted.”
“We’ve got to be concerned what military assistance and whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists and the least disruptive weapon system to the balance of power between India and Pakistan,” Congressman Brad Sherman said.
“We need to offer to Pakistan those weapon systems well-crafted to go after terrorists and not crafted for a war with India,” Sherman said.
The US Senate has currently put a hold on the decision of the Obama Administration to give eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of $700 million.
“Despite giving Pakistan enormous amounts of counter-terror assistance over the years, over $25 billion since 9/11, terrorist organizations continue to operate with impunity in Pakistan.
“Pakistan has used terror as a tool of statecraft and terrorist proxy groups, for the Pakistani military have carried out fatal attacks inside India,” he alleged.
The subcommittee chairperson, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, too, expressed concerns over sale of F-16 to Pakistan.
“I think that we need to leverage our military sales to Pakistan in order to get some more cooperation within the region.
“Can you please update us on the status of the F-16 sales and how would you describe our ability to leverage our aid to Pakistan?” she asked.
Defending Obama Administration’s decision ,Olson said this is in the best interest of the United States.
“The administration is supportive of the F-16 sale to Pakistan. This is been developed between our military coordinating groups over the course of time that is consistent with our overall program of support for the Pakistani military, which is based on counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism. The Pakistanis have developed a precision strike capability that they use in the F-16s they have right now to take out targets,” he said.
