WASHINGTON – India suffered humiliation after the United States did not payheed to its protest against the proposed foreign military sale worth $450million to Pakistan to maintain its fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
Last Week, the Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defenseissued the required certificate for the possible sale of F-16 aircraftsustainment and related equipment to Pakistan.
The move made the India angry as its Ministry of External Affairs raisedstrong objections during a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State forSouth and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu in New Delhi, Indian mediareported.
The Indian objection came despite a clarification from DSCA, which saidthat the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter thebasic military balance in the region,
When asked about the Indian reservations, US State Department SpokespersonNed Price replied, “well, we did recently notify Congress of a proposedforeign military sale valued at $450 million for maintenance andsustainment services for the Pakistani Air Force’s F-16 programme.”
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He stressed Pakistan is an “important partner” of the US, particularly inefforts against terrorism.
“And as part of our longstanding policy, we provide life cycle maintenanceand sustainment packages for US-origin platforms,” reports quoted him assaying.
“Pakistan’s F-16 programme, it’s an important part of the broaderUS-Pakistan bilateral relationship, and this proposed sale will sustainPakistan’s capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threatsby maintaining the F-16 fleet. This is a fleet that allows Pakistan tosupport counterterrorism operations, and we expect Pakistan will takesustained action against all terrorist groups.”
