F16s from US will only help Pak lose war against India ‘a little slower’: US official

[ssheppard]

Even while the United States has offered huge military and non-military aid to Pakistan, including the much sought after F-16 combat jets, American officials believe that Washington is careful enough to not to disturb the balance of power in South Asia.

Pentagon officials told The Los Angeles Times that the US is aware of its responsibilities, and that providing the F-16’s to Pakistan does not mean that it gets an advantage over India’s might.

“Another squadron of F-16s means they [Pakistan] will lose the next war with India a little slower,” the newspaper quoted a Pentagon official, as saying on conditions of anonymity.

“They are not going to defeat India because we gave them a squadron of F-16s. The military overmatch India enjoys is just too great ,” he said.

Washington is sensitive to the risk of dramatically increasing one country’s military prowess vis-a-vis the other, which would potentially trigger the very war the US wants to avoid, the newspaper said.

US officials said America’s growing ties would India would help both countries gel better and enhance support for each other.”The technology and logistic agreements that go along with an expanded defence trade will bind the US and India closer together,” they opined.

Similarly, they believed that providing modern weapons to Pakistan, even those not specifically intended for anti-extremism operations, was crucial to the Obama administration’s prime objective of toning down the massive distrust that prevails between the two countries.


F-16’s from US will only help Pak lose war against India ‘a little slower’: US officials

 

[ssheppard]

Now before people start jumping over Indian Media .....considering the source....Here is a news item from International Media.

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Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates leaned on India and Pakistan during his trip to South Asia this week to set aside a simmering rivalry and confront militant extremists. At the same time, Gates and other U.S. officials pushed arms sales that could fuel the antagonism between the two countries.

Gates' trip was framed by that apparent contradiction in U.S. policy. On his arrival in Pakistan, a television news interviewer put the question bluntly: "Why re-arm both countries?" The Pentagon chief sidestepped the question.

But Gates and other officials explained afterward that Washington hopes the military cooperation will help the U.S. win the trust it needs to advance its goals in the region. And, besides, they said, the two countries could get weapons elsewhere, so why not from us?

"I think we have to make these decisions judiciously," Gates said. "But we also do not simply want to turn over these military relationships to other countries who don't have as many scruples as we do in terms of making these decisions."

The U.S. has increased annual military aid to Pakistan to about $3 billion a year and taken on controversial projects, such as helping to refurbish and expand Islamabad's fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

Gates said Thursday that the U.S. also would provide surveillance drones to the Pakistani military, acceding to a long-standing request.

Two days earlier, Gates praised an expanding arms trade with India, saying that U.S. weapons would give New Delhi "the best products in the world."

India is also weighing major aircraft purchases, including billions of dollars worth of fighter jets.

Expanding the conventional military power of two sometimes bitter adversaries may not seem like the best strategy for distracting the nations from their rivalry. But U.S. officials see signs that both countries may be starting to trust Washington's counsel.

After the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India took U.S. advice against ratcheting up tensions with Pakistan, despite its impatience with the response to the Pakistani-based militant group believed responsible for the strike.

Pakistan, for its part, has taken action against militant groups in its tribal areas. It has 140,000 troops on its western border who have been engaged in a sustained assault on Taliban and Al Qaeda hide-outs since late April.

Military officials said the Pentagon was being careful to not alter the balance of power in South Asia, even when providing F-16s to Pakistan.

"Another squadron of F-16s means they [Pakistan] will lose the next war with India a little slower," said a U.S. military official in Islamabad, speaking of the arms sales on condition of anonymity. "They are not going to defeat India because we gave them a squadron of F-16s. The military overmatch India enjoys is just too great."

Washington is sensitive to the risk of dramatically increasing one country's military prowess beyond the other's, which would change the calculus and potentially trigger the very war the United States wants to avert.

For example, the United States wants Pakistan to expand its surveillance capability, but it does not want to deliver long-range or heavily armed drones that Pakistani engineers could re-engineer into a platform for nuclear weapons.

Similarly, India covets high-tech fighters, but the United States does not want to offer it stealth jets that could penetrate Pakistani airspace without challenge.

Nonetheless, the technology and logistics agreements that go along with an expanded defense trade will bind the United States and India closer together, officials said.

Likewise, officials believe that providing Pakistan with weapons -- even those not specifically intended for counter-insurgency operations -- is crucial to Washington's larger goal of countering Pakistani distrust.

"How do we close the trust deficit? By acting like friends," the official said. "By being willing to do things to meet their perceived needs, even if it does nothing for us."

Pentagon chief defends arms sales to India, Pakistan - latimes.com

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[karan.1970]

Even while the United States has offered huge military and non-military aid to Pakistan, including the much sought after F-16 combat jets, American officials believe that Washington is careful enough to not to disturb the balance of power in South Asia.

Pentagon officials told The Los Angeles Times that the US is aware of its responsibilities, and that providing the F-16’s to Pakistan does not mean that it gets an advantage over India’s might.

“Another squadron of F-16s means they [Pakistan] will lose the next war with India a little slower,” the newspaper quoted a Pentagon official, as saying on conditions of anonymity.

“They are not going to defeat India because we gave them a squadron of F-16s. The military overmatch India enjoys is just too great ,” he said.

Washington is sensitive to the risk of dramatically increasing one country’s military prowess vis-a-vis the other, which would potentially trigger the very war the US wants to avoid, the newspaper said.

US officials said America’s growing ties would India would help both countries gel better and enhance support for each other.”The technology and logistic agreements that go along with an expanded defence trade will bind the US and India closer together,” they opined.

Similarly, they believed that providing modern weapons to Pakistan, even those not specifically intended for anti-extremism operations, was crucial to the Obama administration’s prime objective of toning down the massive distrust that prevails between the two countries.


F-16’s from US will only help Pak lose war against India ‘a little slower’: US officials

Man.. This thread is so going down...

This interview is so lame..USA seems to be acting like the Federation from star trek about not directly influencing the natural progression of planets outside of federation

Of course giving F 16s to Pakistan disturbs the balance a bit but India had immidiately countered it with its own procurement. The only difference is that India will have to shell out some hard $$$ to restore the balance. And if the MMRCA contract goes to F 16 or F 18SH, USA gains both ways..

Also heaven forbid, the next war will be decided not by these planes but by the level of insanity and political will of the 2 governments. Basically by who blinks first under the nuclear overhang

 

[Iggy]

This report is to calm Indian anxiety of US selling weapons to Pakistan thats all

 

[Bullhead]

Bloody hell...these americans for sure would do anything to make sure that the world continues to buy their military hardware......but he may be right to some extent....a squadron of f16 is not going to win a war.

 

[Icarus]

I believe seiko's rely to this topic is quite adequate.
From Gate's statements, even a complete novice in defence issues can tell he is desperate for India to award their 128 aircraft order to US.

 

[manglasiva]

This report is to calm Indian anxiety of US selling weapons to Pakistan thats all

Right

 

[Iggy]

Right

Thank you Thank you

 

[manglasiva]

and who will benefit the most if India buys from USA of MRCA ?
Double game..enough is enough..its a pity that the subcontinent is party to US designs.

 

[TaimiKhan]

This report is to calm Indian anxiety of US selling weapons to Pakistan thats all

Can you plzz give the dollar amount and the type of weapons & the number of weapons that US is selling or will sell or has sold to Pakistan so far.

 

[Iggy]

Can you plzz give the dollar amount and the type of weapons & the number of weapons that US is selling or will sell or has sold to Pakistan so far.

Taimi I meant there were protest from Indian side over the possible selling of drones and F-16's to Pakistan..This statement is to clam those voices down ..

 

[karan.1970]

Can you plzz give the dollar amount and the type of weapons & the number of weapons that US is selling or will sell or has sold to Pakistan so far.

I think the comment from Seiko was specific to the F16 sale

 

[Awesome]

Actually, it all depends upon what kind of war.

Pakistan's fighting defensive scenarios and even after the Mumbai attacks Several Su-30s incurred within Pakistani airspace but were chased away by F-16s, Mirage III/IVs and F-7s and a host of SAMs.

Coming into Pakistan and fighting a defensive force is a lot different than getting the full chance to exercise your weapons full potential.

Not to mention our superior CM arsenal would give destructive blows to airforce bases in range with pinpoint accuracy. The F-16s are going to be used in defensive roles not pitted 1on1 with Su-30s.

Being the defensive nation war will be fought on the playing field we set.

 

[illuminatus]

and who will benefit the most if India buys from USA of MRCA ?
Double game..enough is enough..its a pity that the subcontinent is party to US designs.

I agree. Both Pakistan and India will be falling for the trap and the US will be profiting by arming both nations with deadly weapons. Instead of resorting to an arms race both countries should ideally be diverting their resources to their people.

 

[Kompromat]

This report is to calm Indian anxiety of US selling weapons to Pakistan thats all

They might have told us something similar too , they are smart ..

What if they say that we will give Pakistan source codes for MMRCA

Seiko i will be honest with you Americans are not a friend of any of us , that is for sure because all they want is just to keep their Military factories running no matter at what cost and at what level of diplomacy.

This is what keeps their economy running , but once their game plan of destroying Pakistan , India and China by bringing them to war is exposed then they are gone!

Or maybe when they would be successful creating tensions between 3 Regional superpowers then they will come and offer peace and show us how " Friendly" they are.