Pakistan may use F-16 against India: US lawmakers
US lawmakers have once again questioned Obama administration’s decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying they will be used against India, not on terrorists as claimed.
Pointing to Pakistan’s checkered record on counter-terrorism, they wanted to know if it won’t be more prudent to give them weapon systems “well-crafted” for combating terrorism instead.
“Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgement and timing of such a sale,” said Matt Salmon, a Republican member of House of Representatives.
“Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated 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,” he added.
Brad Sherman, a Democrat, said, “We’ve got to be concerned … whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists.”
The remarks were made at a congressional hearing on Wednesday to consider the state department’s budgetary allocations for conducting relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Obama administration has decided to sell Pakistan eight F-16s, ignoring concerns in the US, raised by lawmakers and experts, and India, which has officially protested.
Concerned lawmakers in the senate and the House of representatives have put a procedural hold on the subsidized sale, denying congressionally-approved financing for it.
The administration has told congress the sale would be worth $699.04 million, 42% of which is to be subsidized by the US, and has sought approval for it. That remains denied so far. Pakistan wants these fighter jets for combating terrorists.
The Obama administration, which was represented at the hearing by state department’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson, agrees.
Olson told lawmakers the administration supports the sale. “The Pakistanis have developed a precision strike capability that they use in the F-16s they have right now to take out targets.”