No security plan linked to F-16 deal, says FO
ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: The Foreign Office on Monday dispelled the impression that the sale of F-16 jets to Pakistan recently cleared by the US Congress was linked to the government’s compliance to an ‘extraordinary’ security plan.
“We have not been conveyed any requirement for extraordinary security arrangements. We are not aware of that,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a weekly news briefing when asked about preconditions set for the delivery of the F-16 aircraft.
However, when her attention was drawn to some intrusive security measures suggested by a US official, she said: “We have not started the negotiations on the details but I don’t think any government would allow that.”
The spokesperson declined to comment on the exchanges between the US administration and the Congress on the F-16 issue, saying: “That is not our business. Our business is the procurement of the F-16 aircraft.”
She said that following the Congress approval, the next step would be a letter of offer and a letter of acceptance. “We have not reached that stage,” she added.
She emphasised that defence sales agreements everywhere contained a standard clause which ensured there was no transfer of technology to a third country. “Of course when we sign agreements with other countries, whether we are selling or purchasing, we have this clause,” she said.
When the spokesperson’s attention was drawn to reports that the US government had complained to the Interior Ministry about Pakistan misusing military equipment given to it for counter-terrorism operations, she said: “No, we are not aware of any such objection by the US authority.” On whether there was any US pressure on Pakistan on building of the nuclear reactor, Ms Aslam said: “No. There is absolutely no pressure.”
MUSHARRAF VISIT: The FO spokesperson termed incorrect a report about President Gen Musharraf’s visit to the United States this month. “This is wrong. President is not visiting US in August,” she said.
TROOPS: Ms Aslam said that at the moment there was no proposal of sending Pakistani troops to Lebanon.—Q.A.
However, she said there were two key elements in Pakistan’s criteria for participating in the peacekeeping operations. One was a UN-sanctioned mandate and the other was acceptance of that mandate by the parties concerned. “In this case we would like to see a UN Security Council-sanctioned peacekeeping mission and acceptance by Lebanon, she said and added: “If these conditions are met then we would be ready to consider our participation.”
She was evasive when her comments were sought on US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s statement about redrawing the Middle East map. She said she had not seen the statement and instead talked about the US Greater Middle East Initiative that involved a number of countries, including Pakistan.
Answering a question, Ms Aslam said consultations on the US-France UN draft resolution on the Israel-Lebanon conflict were continuing. “We understand the Lebanese have expressed certain reservations, so did Qatar and now the effort would be to make it more balanced,” she said.
Regretting that considerable time had lapsed since the Israeli onslaught against Lebanon, she hoped the international community would step in urgently to stop the carnage of the Lebanese people and put an end to the Israeli aggression.
When asked to comment on the Muslim Ummah’s unity the spokesperson left it at: “Ummah, well if it’s Ummah!”
