Pak-US relations and the F-16 deal

The sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan is facing stiff resistance in the US Congress and Senate where lawmakers lacking coherent insight recently moved resolutions seeking to block the sale. The State Department, however, correctly maintained that the sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan would assist counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. In February 2016, State Department spokesperson Helaena W White stated, “Pakistan’s current F-16s have proven critical to the success of these operations to date," and endorsed Pakistan’s position that it had effectively used its existing fleet of F-16s in counter-terrorism operations.

White noted that the operations Pakistan was conducting in Fata with the help of F-16s "reduce the ability of militants to use Pakistani territory as a safe haven for terrorism and a base of support for the insurgency in Afghanistan" and "these operations are in the national interests of Pakistan, the United States, Nato, and in the interest of the region more broadly."

On the other hand, India, and some US lawmakers have rejected this claim, saying that the F-16s have not been useful in such operations and would ultimately be used against India, which is feeding a myth.

Nevertheless, in a policy justification, posted on the Federal Register, the US administration rejected this assertion. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it argued, adding that the aircraft would improve “Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future security threats.”

The administration also noted that the additional F-16 aircraft would facilitate operations in non-daylight environments and “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.”

The Obama administration has also explained to the US lawmakers that the sale would increase the number of aircraft available to the Pakistan Air Force to sustain operations, meet monthly training requirements, and support transition training for pilots new to the Block-52, F-16 aircraft. Implementation of the proposed sale would not require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to Pakistan. There would be no adverse impact on US defence readiness either, it says.

Unfortunately, the hindrances created by the US Senate and Congress in the sale of F-16s to Pakistan seem to be at the behest of Indian lobby at work in the United States, which has extracted every morsel of propaganda against Pakistan. It is ironic that the nuclearisation of the Indian Ocean by India has gone unnoticed by the US Senate and the government but not the F-16s that would be used against terrorists. One reason why the Indian lobby has been successful is lack of lobbying by the Pakistan government at the Capitol Hill to counter the growing Indian influence among the US lawmakers.

The Pakistan Air Force is fighting side by side with the Pakistan Army against the terrorists in Fata. The F-16s are effectively engaged in destroying the terrorist strongholds. These eight F-16s were required by Pakistan to meet the challenges of the war on terror. The delays or non-availability of the said aircraft will tax the PAF efforts in its fight against terrorists, which does not augur well in the fight against terrorism in the region.

Following the unmistakable change of emphasis by the US lawmakers, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry declared that Pakistan needs modern F-16 fighter jets for its ongoing war against terrorism but rejects the conditions the United States has attached with their sale. The foreign secretary said no conditions should be attached to the sale of F-16s because Pakistan plans to use the jets only for the purpose of fighting terrorists.

Pakistan has always stood with the US as a strategic partner. The war against the former USSR is an example where Pakistan rendered huge sacrifices and helped the US win the war and become the sole superpower. However, at the end of the war, Pakistan was left alone, high and dry, to clean the mess.

After 9/11, the country has once again rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war on terror in terms of lives, economy and infrastructure. Therefore, it is only natural to feel uneasy about the decision.

As the episode raises whole range of crucial questions, as a sovereign country, it is time to tell the US that we are not going to be blackmailed on the petty deal and would look for alternate sources to meet our immediate and essential needs to fight against the terrorists. It seems as the episode emphasises vengeful nature and questions the wisdom of those opposed to the deal, it is also an embarrassing reminder that the Pak-US bilateral relations may be moving towards the era of infamous Pressler Amendment.