Pakistan hails US Senate’s approval to sale of F-16s

WASHINGTON: Pakistan welcomed the Senate vote to throw out legislation aimed at blocking the deal to provide eight F-16 fighter jets. "The vote is a demonstration of the strength and resilience of Pakistan-US relationship," Pakistan's ambassador to the US said here on Friday.

Commenting on the Senate vote that won 71 favours against the bill introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul to oppose Obama administration's decision to sell fighter jets to Pakistan, the ambassador appreciated leadership of the US Congress in consistently supporting Pak-US counter-terrorism partnership.

The administration announced on February 12 that it had decided to sell eight F-16s as well as some technical equipment to Pakistan. Every such proposed decision needs a Congressional nod within thirty days. During this time, the lawmakers can object or approve the decision.

But, the announcement faced severe criticism from some members of the Congress. A member of the House, Rep Dana Rohrabacher opposed the decision, as well as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who even wrote a letter to Secretary of State outlining his position. Chairman of the Senate Arms Services Committee, John McCain suggested that the deal ought to be postponed because of the controversy surrounding it. However, the administration officials and Secretary of State John Kerry defended the decision.

The opposition to the decision was quashed when the Senate voted out Rand Paul's bill. He had also asked his colleagues to support him. Technically, in the absence of any objection to the administration's decision, the deal could go through smoothly. Only 24 Senators went against it, but a few of the members still appeared skeptical. They supported the view that the sale could be acceptable if it’s not subsidised.

The jets and the technical equipment will help Pakistan's fleet to counter terrorism and counter insurgency. The State Department had called the proposed deal as contributor to US foreign policy objective and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia.