Motion to block F-16 sale to Pakistan defeated in US Senate
The senate voted 71 to 24 against the motion.
Dunya News Report (Madiha Fareed)
The bid to stop the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets worth $700 million to Pakistan was defeated by an overwhelming majority in US senate. The senate voted 71 to 24 against the motion. The lawmakers however insisted that no U.S tax dollars should be used to sponsor the transaction unless Pakistan becomes a more “trusted ally”. The resolution was moved by the Republican senator and former presidential candidate Rand Paul to prevent the sale under the “Arms Control Act”.
On Feb 12, the Obama administration formally announced that it would go ahead with the $700 million arms deal with Pakistan which includes eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets. The deal was in the pipeline from past 4-5 years.
The deal had to go through a 30-days mandatory review period which ends today and the deal immediately becomes effective after that.
Pakistan’s ambassador to US Jalil Abbas Jilani has hailed the US congress decision and regarded the vote as a “demonstration of strength of Pak-U.S relationship.”
United States department of Statement has defended the decision to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan and has lauded Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism.
During a testimony in the senate, United States Secretary of State John Kerry passionately defended the sale of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying that US is committed to boosting Pakistan’s strategic capabilities in its war against terrorists.
“The F-16s have been a critical part of the Pakistani fight against the terrorists in the western part of that country, and have been effective in that fight. And Pakistan has lost some 50,000 people in the last years, including troops, to the terrorists that are threatening Pakistan itself”, Kerry told the house.
Pentagon spokesman again reiterated the point at the press briefing about the importance of the F-16 deal saying "We think this [sale of aircraft] is a capability that will help Pakistan in its counterterrorism efforts and we think that s in the national security interests of the United States".
The announcement of the deal was initially met with resistance from quite a few politicians. Senator Rand Paul was among the first to voice his concerns, he called Pakistan an “uncertain ally”.
Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a critic of USA’s continuing military aid to Pakistan. Corker told Secretary of State John Kerry in a letter that he was concerned about Pakistan’s ties to the Haqqani network, a militant group that US officials claim to be behind attacks in Afghanistan.
Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former presidential candidate said that it would complicate USA’s relations with India and regarded the timings of the deal as “bad”. “I would rather have seen it kicked over to the next administration”, he said.
Pakistan’s grouchy neighbor India isn’t too happy about US selling F-16 to Pakistan. The deal prompted a strong response from India and Indian govt. formally protested with USA by calling upon their Ambassador in New Delhi. Indian lobbyists in Washington tried their best to block the deal. Indian media also lashed out on John Kerry and Obama Administration for signing this deal with Pakistan, regarding it nothing less of a betrayal.
US Department of Defence clearly stated that F-16 deal with Pakistan should be of no concern to India as the decision about the deal was taken after taking into account the regional security conditions; Pakistan has also disregarded India’s antagonism as unreasonable.
United States and Pakistan have had a complicated relationship. United States identifies Pakistan as a key partner in its war against terror following the September 11, 2001, attacks and Pakistan has received billions of dollars from US as military aid to fight terrorism.
At the event of sixth ministerial-level meeting between United States and Pakistan, US vowed to increase non-military aid to Pakistan to enhance cooperation in the fields of education, science, energy and trade.
F-16s have reportedly played a crucial role in Pakistan Army’s Zarb-e-Azb operation in northern areas against militants. The operation has now entered its last phase to wipe out the remaining militants’ sanctuaries, according to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
