India seemed very disappointed with the United States which has approved the sales of the eight F16 fighter jets to Pakistan. After this decision India has summoned US Ambassador to New Delhi on Saturday to convey the displeasure.
We are very disappointed at the decision taken by the Obama government to notify the sale of the F16 aircraft’s to Pakistan. We completely disagree with the rationale that such kind of transfer of arms will help in combating the terrorism, said the ministry of external affairs on Saturday. US ambassador has summoned Mr. Richard Verma and has summoned to the ministry’s South Block office on Saturday morning where he had a meeting with the foreign secretary S Jaishankar over this matter.
Pentagon’s Defense Security Co-operation Agency said that the proposed sale of the Air Craft will be worth USD 700 million and will improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia. Pentagon has also said that the proposed sale will also increase the military balance in the region.
Indian Government told that Pakistan’s record of encouraging cross border terrorism for last many years speaks for itself. The US government’s notification on the sale of the fighter jets, logistics support, and equipment training has come despite a heavy opposition from some of the most influential lawmakers from both Democratic and Republican parties.
This notice of a potential sale is also required by the law and will not mean that the sale has been conducted said the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Along with these additional F16 aircraft can also facilitate the operations in all the weathers, provide self defense, area suppression capability and non day light environment which will also enhance the Pakistan’s ability to conduct the counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.
The sale will also increase the total number of aircraft that are available in the Pakistan Air Force for the purpose of sustaining operations, support transition training for pilots who are new to the Block 52 and meet the monthly training requirement, said the Pentagon agency.
Speaking on the condition of the anonymity, the state department officials defended the decision of the US government and said that we strongly support the proposed sale of the eight F16 to the Pakistan. This will be very helpful in supporting Pakistan’s platform of counter terrorism and a counterinsurgency operation which has contributed to the success of all these operations to the date said the official.
(culled from stockratex.com)
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