US to Sell F-16s to Pakistan

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From DefenseNews

 

U.S. To Sell F-16 Fighters to Pakistan

By P. PARAMESWARAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

 

The United States on March 25 announced plans to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, despite objections from Islamabad’s nuclear rival India.

 

The sale was part of a new strategic approach to the troubled subcontinent that was presented to both countries by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her visit there earlier this month, a senior U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

President George W. Bush telephoned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 25 to inform him of the decision, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

 

Singh expressed to Bush his “great disappointment,” saying it could have “negative consequences” for India’s security, according to the Indian leader’s spokesman, Sanjaya Baru.

 

But the U.S. official said “we don’t see any impact on the relevant military balances in the region.”

 

The sale was to make Pakistan more secure, the official said. “It’s in the interest of India, Pakistan and the United States that Pakistan feels secure.”

 

Pakistan, which has become a major ally of the United States in its war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, said it would buy the latest version of the F-16.

 

“We welcome this good gesture and it shows good friendship between Pakistan and the United States,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told Agence France-Presse in Islamabad.

 

The U.S. official said that although the number of F-16’s offered to Pakistan would be “relatively small, there is no set limit on what the United States is going to be willing to sell.”

 

U.S. officials said Congress was notified March 25 of the sale to Pakistan, which already has such combat aircraft.

 

Islamabad reportedly wants to buy as many as 25 additional units. It has been seeking additional multi-role fighter jets since 1990 when a deal for 40 such planes fell through because of U.S. concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

 

But relations between the United States and Pakistan warmed up after Islamabad helped the Americans topple the hard-line Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001.

 

Bush explained to Singh on March 25 that “his decision to move forward on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, as well as responding to India’s request for information on the provision of multi-role combat aircraft for India,” Perino said.

 

India is considering buying combat aircraft “on a scale very large” and the United States was ready to boost defense cooperation with India, including the sale of F-16s, F-18s or other aircraft, the anonymous U.S. official said.

 

It is believed India was eyeing a variety of aircraft, including Lockheed Martin’s F-16s, France’s Dassault Aviation’s Mirage jet fighters, Swedish-made Gripen fighters and the Russian MiG range, made by Mikoyan-Gurevich.

 

Bush, who was spending the week on his ranch near Crawford, Texas, also discussed with Singh U.S.-Indian relations more broadly, including “the next steps in enhancing our expanding strategic partnership,” the White House said.

 

Washington is willing to work with New Delhi in other ways, including defense co-production and technology licensing, and covering areas such as command and control, early warning systems and missile defense, according to the U.S. official.

 

“Pakistan has been a valuable ally in the war against terrorism, as has India, and I strongly support U.S. arms sales that contribute to that effort,” Democratic Representative Tom Lantos said.

 

“If the reports are correct, I would support the concurrent sale of F-16 aircraft to both countries, which should not undermine stability in the region.”

 

India says however that arming Pakistan with the sophisticated warplanes would upset the military balance in the region and cast a shadow over the slow dialogue process under way between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

 

Relations between the South Asian rivals have warmed since the peace process was launched in January last year, with both sides making a series of matching moves to boost communication links and people-to-people contacts.

 

The most visible sign of improvement in the relationship is their agreement last month to restart a bus service linking the two zones of Kashmir that each country occupies.

 

The thorny issue of divided Kashmir caused two of the three wars between India and Pakistan and brought them close to a fourth war in 2002.