World

Senator John McCain wants hearing on F-16 sale to Pakistan

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee says he is concerned about consequences for US relations with India

Reuters February 25, 2016

US-MADE F-16. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON: US Senator John McCain on Thursday urged the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold a hearing on the possible sale of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters he was concerned about the timing of the Obama administration's decision to approve the sale of the fighter jets to Pakistan, and potential consequences for US relations with India.

India outraged at sale of F-16 jets to Pakistan

"I would rather have seen it kicked over into the next administration," McCain said.

He said a hearing would help senators decide what to do about the proposed sale, noting that he was himself very "conflicted."

The US government announced on Feb 12 that it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets, as well as radars and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million.

The deal drew immediate criticism from India.

US lawmakers now have 30 days to block the sale, although such action is rare since deals are usually well-vetted before any formal notification.

F-16 sale to Pakistan should not be of concern to India: Pentagon

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker allowed the Obama administration to proceed with the deal, but said he would not approve using US funds to pay for the planes through the foreign military financing (FMF) programme.

Corker told Secretary of State John Kerry in a letter earlier this month that he was concerned about Pakistan's ties to the Haqqani network, a militant group that US officials have said is behind attacks in Afghanistan.

COMMENTS (35)

Someone | 8 years ago | Reply @abc: Pakistan's economy is understated. There are billions of reserves abroad (black economy) which would realistically double the GDP if they were accounted for. Swiss accounts alone have over $200 billion of black Pakistani cash (see Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's report) which would be more than enough to buy entire Maharashtra and Mumbai.

Sher | 8 years ago | Reply This all episode is not an embarrassment to either Pakistan or India. Its a big embarrassment for USA. If they give F-16s to Pakistan then it a big slap on India and India will return this slap in kind to USA. And US doesn't give these F-16s to Pakistan then they will lose the very last leverage they have on Pakistan and US knows very well what would happen if Pakistan pulls off its cooperation with US in Afghanistan, US and its allies will be doomed there indefinitely. So, a suggestion to US. Do not bring such sales issues to senate. Did they bring any other weapon sales e.g. to India and Israel to senate the answer is NO.

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obnoxious | 8 years ago | Reply This isn't about USA/India relations - this is about the Republican Party embarrassing Obama who has proposed using USA taxpayer money to help fund Pakistan's purchase of a small number of F-16's. Obama kept the number small hoping to fly under the radar - but that didn't work. Like it or not - Pakistan doesn't have the best rep and some might argue that harboring OBL and supporting the Haqqani are acts of war. This isn't about India - it's about the Republican's using Pakistan's duplicitous actions to embarrass Obama.

abc | 8 years ago | Reply @wiserneighbour: A limited war or full fledged is likely. I find it hard to fathom your comments. The only doubt is timing.Maybe next month or next year

abc | 8 years ago | Reply @Shuaib: Pakistan economy is reliant on IMF, WB and runs on loans. Indian economy statistically is 8 times more than Pakistan but in reality is way more considering the huge black market economy we have. The only reason China is interested in you is the access to the Arabian sea. There is no other reason. Once there investment fails to generate a good return, they will turn back.

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply Senate should invite Pakistan Ambassador to attend the proceeding and allow him/her to make a comment. That might increase the stature of the Pakistani Ambassador who isn't well known and probably isn't even recognized by most of the influential decision makers in the USA.

iSee | 8 years ago | Reply So it was'nt true, when U.S. Said it foreign policy toward Pak is separate from India and that Pak should not worry about U.S. Relations to India. Senator McCain! If you can't reason with India about your claim of elimination of terrorism from Afgh-Pak areas, than why are we in business anyway? First, India is only a master opportunist, that mostly circle around cutting-off Pak. That's world's knowledge now. Second, India will throw tantrum even if you sell Bandaids to Pak. Third, it's your choice, but don't come begging to "do the dirty work for you" again. We in Pak take loyalty and trust in a friendship very seriously, Sir. Your competitions I see are more reliable and trust worthy. As a matter of fact: The F-16s sale was in the pipe for a long time now, only the majority Republic Congress was delaying it's "timing", to milk heavy campaign donations from Indian lobby in the election year. You See Now?

Desi | 8 years ago | Reply All along the US and Pakistan has been a tactical and compulsive relationship, not a strategic, nor economic. Other than control terrorism with Afghanistan what has US got to do with Pakistan. There in lies the problem.

DNiwasi | 8 years ago | Reply @naveed: It is not that 'if US wants to have leverage with Pakistan', it is more like Pakistan has no choice but to continue to maintain its relevance with US if it wants to even survive. It has no money and it is US money that keeps Pakistan afloat every year, it is US where Pakistani military and civilian rulers make most trips, it is US where they send their children to study and where they buy property and park their funds, it is with US that your ruling elite make secret deals, the target of secrecy being Pakistan population to whom they say something else but do something else.

Adeel420 | 8 years ago | Reply I was expecting that. Heard Putin is due to arrive in few months... They say SU-35 is super cool.

Mansoor | 8 years ago | Reply Go on and deny the sale. Do us a huge favour. It would be unrealistic to expect our leaders to divert the money towards social welfare. But at the very least it'll be a wake up call to them. I doubt they'll heed it. They'll probably just switch to some Russian jet.

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply @Tp: I'm sure they won't take a step without your authorisation, sir.

Gurion | 8 years ago | Reply @smash:

Locusts. Really !! These are the same “locusts” that not only fed your country but literally kept you guys afloat.

Pakistanis and gratitude?! Hahaha....

Fahim | 8 years ago | Reply @naveed: The current block 52 planes having technology of 2000's while Block 60 or F-16V were first displayed oin 2013

Qamar | 8 years ago | Reply @naveed: Captain Naveed, a lot of things changed between US and Pakistan after Abbottabad. It is not what it used to be. US will not be appeasing Pak anytime soon.

naveed | 8 years ago | Reply the current F16 technology is 90s technology,it has to be updated pretty soon or the planes will become obsolete in not too a distant future,besides these are the last combat planes Pakistan will ever buy from the US,looks like future will be joint development between Pakistan and China,if America wants to have some leverage on Pakistan,it will have to do things it may not want to

Tp | 8 years ago | Reply The F16s will NEVER reach Pakistan. Barack Hussain Obama can do what he wants but it won't happen.

illpopo | 8 years ago | Reply Remaining prepared and well equipped is good but a dozen of nuclear missiles are enough for anyone around. Please stop begging for F16s when we have sufficient & efficient stock of nukes. Full-fledged war between Pak & India is less likely!! We need to go a step ahead for better relations with India.

illpopo | 8 years ago | Reply Remaining prepared and well equipment is good but a dozen of nuclear missiles are enough for anyone around. Please stop begging for F16s when we have sufficient & efficient stock of nukes. Full-fledged war between Pak & India is less likely!! We need to go a step ahead for better relations with India.

wiserneighbour | 8 years ago | Reply if Pakistan is struggling with this deal to go through, it is their bad karma of double games.You should not bite the hand which feeds you.As a country US helped you to stay afloat but you bit the same hands that fed you.You were always the mercenaries of USA and Saudi.

Amir | 8 years ago | Reply @fact scared of F-16? Son, do you watch game of thrones or know the game of politicking? Looking at your comment one can assume you are a amateur teen.

IndianDude | 8 years ago | Reply Why does Pakistan need outdated 1980s f16s when they have world's best super fighter jf-17s?

Shoaib Bhatti | 8 years ago | Reply I still say our pigeons are way better than any planes

goldconsumer | 8 years ago | Reply Politicians in US fight like those here in Pakistan. Has McCain wondered how many jets did G.W.Bush sold to Pakistan?

smash | 8 years ago | Reply @OSD: Locusts. Really !! These are the same "locusts" that not only fed your country but literally kept you guys afloat. Now when they are raising logical questions they become locusts.

ghazal | 8 years ago | Reply @fact: it is not just Indians but 70% of world is afraid of you. come out of the rock under which you are living

Barney | 8 years ago | Reply It's the Indian lobbying that's making him say this. The strong lobby in Foreign relations committee and the soft power of India in US is doing wonders. It seems Likely that sale of F 16 would not get approval of senate committee. And if that happens , future of US Pakistan relations is in limbo. The point is F16 is not such a big thing for India but still it has been able to put pressure on US not to sell it. Somewhere India doesn't want countries to sell arms to Pakistan. It's a good strategy I believe. And it seems to be working.

ghazal | 8 years ago | Reply pakistan should chance to Russia . they will realise importance of Pakistani strategic location

Bharat | 8 years ago | Reply Once upon a time, Pakistan was the friends. Then Pakistan used a forked tongue

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply McCain is pro Pakistan-ish. It is the Democrats who hate PK. Right now India's economy is larger so they are starting to tilt towards India but with a stronger economy, they'll come back to PK.

OSD | 8 years ago | Reply This American craze for India is really intriguing. The only logical explanation seems to be that they are propping them up to counter China. In any case, good luck to the Indians for their bonhomie with these locusts!

Baby Ka Husband | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan needs to reconfigure its foreign policy objectives and not blindly follow Foster-Dulles era prescriptions. They should avoid purchases of sensitive weapons from fickle partners and instead pursue indigenous missile technology to nullify stupidities of the cold war era. Middle East is changing with Russia providing the answers. Pakistan needs to be more aligned with Russia now and let Indians and American snuggle together.

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply McCain has been "conflicted" ever since checking out of the Hanoi Hilton ! Really, so much ado about a few once upon a time top of the line fighter. Pakistan should seek other options.

fact | 8 years ago | Reply Indian strong criticism shows how scared they are. makes me sleep so relaxed to know the enemies are way much more scared of few F16's.

buba | 8 years ago | Reply Putting a spot light on a country should be a good thing ... but every Pakistani shutters when the spot light is turned on Pakistan. Why is that?

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