Lobbies were at work to sabotage Pak-US F-16 jets deal: Jilani

WASHINGTON: More than one lobbies were at work to sabotage the fighter jets deal for Pakistan. These anti-Pakistan groups were working hands in glove with the Indian lobby, revealed Pakistan's ambassador to the US.

Speaking to The News here, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani said that the deal was initiated last October and since then the US administration as well as the embassy officials have tried to address any and all concerns raised by the lawmakers.

Ambassador Jilani said the 30-day time for approval was just a procedure and the deal will be finalised. He called the opposition from India an 'over reaction' and said the US has already declared that the sale contributes to its policy objectives and national security goals by helping to promote the security of its strategic partner.

The Pentagon on Tuesday also said the jets sale to Pakistan should not be of concern to India and the deal took into account the regional security situation.

Since both political parties in the US are gearing up for presidential elections later this year, there are growing fears that the deal could take longer than expected. Although, the proposed sale would be debated and voted in the Congress, the Pakistani ambassador believes that there's a high chance of the administration backing the sale all the way and resultantly the opposition to the deal will falter.

"The procedural time is to address any further questions and will not impact the deal itself," Jilani said. The US government came out strong and determined to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan amid opposition from high ranking Congress members. Just a day after the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry asking not to honour the deal, the administration approved the sale.

"I fully understand that our relationship with Pakistan is both complicated and imperfect," Corker had written in the letter adding, "Cooperation with Pakistan is important and has achieved some of our interests." Yet, he further said that he doesn't plan to support the deal, since he believes that Pakistan was providing safe havens to the Haqqani network. However, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying the Congress for this possible sale.