Old theory

This refers to the news report, ‘India disappointed over F16s sale to Pakistan’ (February 14). Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned the US ambassador to convey India’s displeasure over the ‘possible’ sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan. Perhaps, these are the times when ‘old theories’ and ‘old proverbs’ are proven right.

Just as Einstein’s theory of ‘gravitational waves’ has been verified recently, the Indian reaction over the ‘possible’ sale of eight F16s has proved correct an age-old proverb going around in the armed forces of the world: “It’s the man not the machine that counts”. India has already signed a lucrative deal of over $2 billion with France to purchase state-of-the-art Rafale fighter jet. But still the Indians are upset that this ‘possible’ sale of eight F16s will tilt the strategic balance in favour of Pakistan. If the Indians do not feel confident enough, even with ‘Rafale’, then no amount of disarmament would raise their confidence level.

Abid Mahmud Ansari

Islamabad