WASHINGTON: Pakistan deliberately let go of the last opportunity to renegotiate the F16 deal with the U.S. after the deadline to respond passed this week.
Diplomatic sources at the embassy revealed that an Acceptance Letter had to be acknowledged by May 24th, but Pakistani officials remained unconcerned. Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. Jalil Abbas Jilani declined to comment on the issue.
Pakistan had asked for at least eight F16 fighter jets amounting to $700 million. The price was to split between $270 million from Pakistan's national resources and $406 million the Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The Obama administration tried to convince the lawmakers to allow FMF saying that the fighter jets will help Pakistan fight terrorism. The Congress, however, had refused to subsidise the cost, while maintaining that the country has to take demonstrated action against the Haqqani Network. Pakistan was then asked to purchase aircrafts on its own dime.
