Pakistan raises issue of F-16 sale with visiting US commander

[cloud4000]

Pakistan raises issue of F-16 sale with visiting US commander
MATEEN HAIDER — UPDATED ABOUT 11 HOURS AGO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday raised the unresolved issue of F-16 sale to Pakistan and expressed concern with the visiting commander of US Central Command (Centcom) General Joseph Votel.

Secretary Defence Gen (r) Alam Khattak reiterated Pakistan’s need for the F-16 jets, and impressed upon the visiting Centcom commander the jet’s utility in the war against terror.

Khattak on the occasion also enquired about the status of roadmap regarding future reimbursement mechanism in lieu of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) beyond 2016.

Diplomatic efforts intensified
Pakistan’s ambassador to US, Jalil Abbas Jilani, has intensified lobbying efforts at Capitol Hill to try and convince US Congress to release funds for the purchase of F-16 jets.

"I am holding frequent meetings with congressmen to convince them that these jets would only be used in the ongoing war against terrorism", Ambassador Jilani told Dawn News from Washington.

The ambassador lamented that multiple lobbies are working against Pakistani interests, and it is difficult to counter them with meager resources.

Ambassador Jilani added in principle the US administration has no objection on the supply of jets to Pakistan, but the Indian lobby at capitol hill is engaged in efforts to block the supply of the jets.

Pakistan had earlier reached an understanding with the US for buying eight F-16 planes. Under the deal, Pakistan was required to pay about $270m from its national funds. The US was supposed to provide the rest from its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) fund.

Pakistan has conveyed to the US that it does not have the money to buy F-16 jets from its resources and has cautioned that if the stalemate over funding is not resolved it may consider buying some other fighter aircraft to meet its needs.

Among the key reasons behind the Congressional hold are concerns that Pakistan has not taken enough action against the Haqqani network; jail sentence for Dr Shakeel Afridi — the physician who had cooperated with the US in tracking Osama bin Laden; and fears about Pakistani nuclear programme.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1257283/pakistan-raises-issue-of-f-16-sale-with-visiting-us-commander

 

[AbRaj]

I don't understand why they call it "war on terror" which is actually a local insurgency of some sorts

 

[hassan zohaib]

I don't understand why they call it "war on terror" which is actually a local insurgency of some sorts

yeah local insurgency having global implications and fruits of global powers gifts to this region.

 

[Dalit]

Every insurgency has some foreign hands behind it and affect world one way or another
So what's your point??

Doesn't your friend Uncle Sam always dictate Pakistan to do more? With dictation comes the responsibility of supplying the goods. Don't act like you didn't know that.

I don't understand why they call it "war on terror" which is actually a local insurgency of some sorts

LOL You been sleeping in a cave all this time? Your country sponsors terror from across the border. It is hardly a local insurgency.

 

[weqi]

I don't understand why they call it "war on terror" which is actually a local insurgency of some sorts

after 9/11 this term come in to use mostly from west war is war and which brings terror

 

[war&peace]

Pakistan should have highlighted its role in WoT. This is so strange and hypocritical of uncle sam that the pentagon keeps praising and pushing Pakistan to do more while their media and state department are busy in maligning image of Pakistan in eyes of US people. And I think partially our leadership is responsible for that because they accepted dictations without bargaining for fair media and positive image of Pakistan in US.

 

[massattack]

after 9/11 this term come in to use mostly from west war is war and which brings terror

"Secretary Defence Gen (r) Alam Khattak reiterated Pakistan’s need for the F-16 jets, and impressed upon the visiting Centcom commander the jet’s utility in thewar against terror"

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/pakistan...h-visiting-us-commander.429879/#ixzz48Ed08JLR

Really?? I don't think so. All demands for freebies are on the name of this " war on terror" jumla

my point is simple,as u put, that it is not local insurgencey it is a fruit of tireless efforts of global powers having local as well as global implications. so it is not created to whole extent by pakistan.

Pakistan should have highlighted its role in WoT. This is so strange and hypocritical of uncle sam that the pentagon keeps praising and pushing Pakistan to do more while their media and state department are busy in maligning image of Pakistan in eyes of US people. And I think partially our leadership is responsible for that because they accepted dictations without bargaining for fair media and positive image of Pakistan in US.

Bargaining is a art.. you guys have to watch bridge of spies to fully understand it. As far as India is concerned they will probably having holi as the end of deal meant as if they have shot down 8 of our planes.....we really need to have a foreign minister and a whole bag of tricks to counter the american Indian media and block any act thats against our country and its national security, but sigh we have Moran PM Nawaz on indian payrole to just keep quiet.

 

[war&peace]

Yeah, you can call it Indian sponsored terror.



Somewhere I'm glad all this is happening. We need to come out of US influence.

Yes in the long term Pakistan should get independent from USA and the sooner the better. But I assure you there is still a very large number of people in Pakistani establishment who advocate for US slavery. Our establishment is not making a strategic shift but only reacting on event basis. If you look at their statements, "if F-16 is not given to us, we will look for other options".... a kind of shallow warning or whitemail. When you make strategic shift, it has to subtle but clear and you do not issue such sulky statements rather US will be doing more to keep Pakistan in its camp or at least a good working relationship for its interest in the region.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

There is something called Chain of Command

The Visiting US commander can only pass on the message to Pentagon

He cant get the US congress to shift their stand

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Pakistan and it's love for F-16's

 

[cloud4000]

There is something called Chain of Command

The Visiting US commander can only pass on the message to Pentagon

He cant get the US congress to shift their stand

Not necessarily true. Congress may not listen to Obama, but they do listen to the military, especially its commanders. This is a good strategy by Pakistan.

 

[barbarosa]

I think that USA is exist in the India, the leader ship of both countries are busy in negotiation, USA is success in it's aim which it demand from India, it is must for them to stop F16 selling to Pakistan, because India has showed concern on these F16.

 

[Hamza913]

FFS just go and buy some J-10's or used F16's.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Not necessarily true. Congress may not listen to Obama, but they do listen to the military, especially its commanders. This is a good strategy by Pakistan.

Congress doesn't listen to commanders. They'll bend the military over a table if it'll get them re-elected or fill their campaign funds.

 

[Dalit]

Pakistan and it's love for F-16's

Let them get humiliated until they get bluntly refused. They will eventually learn.