Sale Of F-16 Aircraft To Pakistan Sign Of 'Burgeoning Relationship:' Pentagon

[WAQAS119]

(RTTNews) - The Pentagon says the impending sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan is a sign of burgeoning relationship between the two countries, that has clearly been evolving week by week.

"The F-16 sale is a sign of this burgeoning relationship between us and increased defense cooperation between our two countries. So the personnel that are going there in advance of the arrival of those planes is to assist the Pakistanis so that they can operate these sophisticated warplanes," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.

Morrell also noted the "great strides" made over the past few weeks to try to accelerate reimbursement payments for coalition support funds to the Pakistanis as another sign of progress in U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

In this regards he said about $600 million was en route or would soon be en route in the next few weeks to Pakistan to reimburse them for their military operations (in the north-western region bordering Afghanistan) over the past year.

The Pentagon spokesman said virtually everybody in the Defense Department--the Secretary, the Chairman, General McChrystal, the head of ODRP in Pakistan--clearly enjoys very good relations with Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, which he termed as a positive development.

However, Morrell observed that sending more U.S. personnel to the Islamic country and their visa continued to be a major bottleneck.

Though some progress on that count has been made, he asserted that there probably is still more that could be done so that they could be more helpful to the Pakistanis with regards to reimbursement payments, which Islamabad clearly, given the fiscal situation that the country faces, are in need of as well.

 

[ramu]

All words that really don't add up to significant action. The F16s are always held up as the carrot to silence Pakistan.

F-16s are offered to any country that can buy and is not a threat to US. Kits better than the Block 52 were in India for trials and are offered to India. Offering F16s amount to nothing. Calling this as a litmus test to indicate the good relations between US and Pakistan is akin to saying the relationship between the seller and buyer is going well.

Too little too late is the sinking feeling I see in US - Pak relations. Recounting Imran Khan's statement that Pakistan is a hired gun of USA sounds relevant.

600$ : In this case, late payment is affecting Pakistan but US has for months made Pakistan wait in spite of its difficulties with IMF.

I would like to know how many here really think US considers Pakistan as a true ally and is not using it to meet its objectives in Afghan - Pakistan region.

 

[Materialistic]

F-16s are offered to any country that can buy and is not a threat to US. Kits better than the Block 52 were in India for trials and are offered to India. Offering F16s amount to nothing. Calling this as a litmus test to indicate the good relations between US and Pakistan is akin to saying the relationship between the seller and buyer is going well.

I Agree with that. This is just a buyer seller relationship and this way they are not doing any good for us rather they are promising sales to their own weapon industry. Everybody knows that US wants to roll out a few more planes from this platform before the production is completely stopped.

And even if they come up offering a handful of F-16s to Pakistan it will still be nothing against what Pakistan has been facing from years in this freakin WOT.

I would like to know how many here really think US considers Pakistan as a true ally and is not using it to meet its objectives in Afghan - Pakistan region.

Actions speak louder than words, US is just a strategic ally and not a reliable one. Even if they come up with new sanctions on Pakistan after this WOT ends,no Pakistani would be suprised!!

If the intentions were right then instead of a few Helis, 2 Onions(orions) and other handful of military hardware, we would have been given Civil Nuclear Technology because the world knows what energy crises is Pakistan going through or at least the trade limit should be decreased or removed at all.

 

[Windjammer]

All words that really don't add up to significant action. The F16s are always held up as the carrot to silence Pakistan.

F-16s are offered to any country that can buy and is not a threat to US. Kits better than the Block 52 were in India for trials and are offered to India. Offering F16s amount to nothing. Calling this as a litmus test to indicate the good relations between US and Pakistan is akin to saying the relationship between the seller and buyer is going well.

Too little too late is the sinking feeling I see in US - Pak relations. Recounting Imran Khan's statement that Pakistan is a hired gun of USA sounds relevant.

600$ : In this case, late payment is affecting Pakistan but US has for months made Pakistan wait in spite of its difficulties with IMF.

I would like to know how many here really think US considers Pakistan as a true ally and is not using it to meet its objectives in Afghan - Pakistan region.

One just needs to go back to the 90s, when the US implemented the sanctions and with held the supply of the even paid up F-16s, using Pakistan's nuclear programme as the ploy. The plain fact is all these superpowers boast their economies by selling arms and ammo to third world and other weapon starved countries. Since the world has become the so called Global village hence each for their own, suffice to assume the US didn't want to miss the gravy train since other countries were now able and willing to sell to Pakistan. Albeit the common terminology amongst the Pakistan Citizens has tendency to the effect that Americans are always there when they need us, but in my hearts of heart, i believe that the Americans after 9/11 have had a rude awakening, you see by merely turning back on your misdeeds doesn't make your troubles go away, the nightmares some times do come calling. As for the hired gun comment, it doesn't take an historian to conclude that all theses suicide attacks and bomb explosions are not happening in down town Washington, and neither those killed are American Nationals.
Comming back to the F-16s, the mere fact that India is considering it as an option for it's MMRCA, should suffice for the ardent critique as what importance this platform holds in modern day warfare.

 

[Mirza Jatt]

If the intentions were right then instead of a few Helis, 2 Onions(orions) and other handful of military hardware, we would have been given Civil Nuclear Technology because the world knows what energy crises is Pakistan going through or at least the trade limit should be decreased or removed at all.

absoloutely correct.US just sees its personal interest..thats it!
even this sale of f-16 fulfills its own interest.

 

[Cityboy]

Its bad to be enemy of america but it is worst to be ally of america. . Very well known