ISLAMABAD – United Arab Emirates establishing full diplomatic relationswith the predominantly Jewish State of Israel — only the third Muslim Arabcountry to do so after Egypt and Jordan — has raised questions in academicand diplomatic circles as to whether Pakistan will follow suit.
And if it does, will the US reward it with a fleet of F-35s — itsfifth-generation stealth fighter jets?
A Pakistani diplomat, who was close to the late Benazir Bhutto, revealedthat when the latter was out of power and attempting to make a comeback,American officials met her over dinner and told her point-blank that the USadministration would not only help her to return to office, but ensure anextended tenure in government, if she gave a commitment that Pakistan wouldrecognise Israel once she was in the driving seat.link
Bhutto had been a victim of two unceremonious ousters in 1990s — with thePakistani military being complicit in these — after being elected primeminister.
It is unclear if she provided any guarantees, since political opinion inPakistan has staunchly been behind the Palestinian cause.
Countries like the UAE have historically been no different. Now, Americanmedia are reporting that talks have taken place between Washington and AbuDhabi on a potential sale of F-35 jets.
*The Wall Street Journal* claimed such dialogue is ‘raising thornyquestions for Israel’s security in the Middle East’.
It cited, quoting US officials, that the UAE ‘has long sought the jetfighters’ and that extending a hand of friendship towards Israel was basedon ‘an understanding that the Emirates could have access to advancedAmerican military hardware’.
CNN thinks the proposed transaction is a ‘secret push’ by US PresidentDonald J Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, and that theclandestine initiative ‘has caused confusion and frustration among agenciesand congressional committees that would normally be involved in such asale, but have been left in the dark’.
Trump himself stated the sale, previously on hold, was ‘under review’. Asenior director for West Asia in the US administration’s national securitycouncil, Miguel Correa, is said to be leading the discussions with the UAE.
The UAE foreign ministry stated, ‘The F-35 has been part of these plans formore than six years.’
‘With the signing of the new accord (*with Israel brokered by the US*) andthe added assurances it provides,’ the UAE added, ‘we expect closersecurity cooperation among all three countries, including on air defenceand systems’
Read Top Stories
*The New York Times* corroborated that the Emirati military was recentlygiven a classified briefing by US administration officials on the F-35s.However, any sale of these would be subject to approval from congressionalcommittees.
Notwithstanding Israel’s elation over recognition by the UAE, the Jewishlobby in the US is expected to persuade representatives and Senators toblock it. Arms exports from the US generally take years to mature.
Israel’s *Jerusalem Post* wrote, ‘(*Prime Minister Benjamin*) Netanyahu hasfaced scrutiny in Israel over these developments.’
He apparently admitted he did not take alternative prime minister anddefence minister Benny Gantz into confidence about normalisation ofrelations with the UAE.
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi reportedly said he was not made aware ofany security aspects of the deal.
Hardliners in Israel are concerned about it losing its air superiority inWest Asia.
It is well known Israel would welcome a diplomatic relationship withPakistan and feelings of a section of the Pakistani military — anIsraelogist at the School of Oriental and African Studies observed — werelikewise. He did not, though, envisage Pakistan openly embracing Israel.Instead he visualised a covert link.
In the past, informed circles in Britain have maintained Israel suppliedcomponents for F-16 aircraft to the Pakistan air force.link
When in 1992, then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao proceeded with fulldiplomatic relations with Israel, Tel Aviv supported India’s position thatPakistan should vacate the part of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by it. But itdid not reiterate this stance in a joint statement between then primeministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Ariel Sharon in 2003.
SOURCE:link
