F-16s for Pak: India summons US envoy

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 13

India today summoned US Ambassador to India Richard Varma to convey its displeasure over the US decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The deal is being seen as a setback for India as it has come at a time when the country was trying hard to corner Pakistan over its support to terrorism, particularly in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks accused David Coleman Headley.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, who met the US Ambassador, conveyed India’s discontentment over the defence deal. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said the government disagreed with the US rationale that it could help combat terrorism.

The sale of the jets to Pakistan has been notified by the Pentagon to the US Congress. For the sale to be finalised, the US Congress now has 30 days to approve it or veto the deal. The veto, though, is rarely used.

A number of US Congressmen, both from the Democratic and Republican parties, had voiced their opposition to the proposed deal, but the Obama administration chose to go ahead with it.

The eight F-16 jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, will be sold to Pakistan along with radar and other equipment and will bring in $699 million to the US economy.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which coordinates such foreign arms sales, said it had informed the Congress of the plans on Thursday. “This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia,” it said in a statement.