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US Congress stalls F-16 sale to Pakistan

Can Obama Administration undo the hold?

  • Yes

    Votes: 53 52.0%
  • No

    Votes: 33 32.4%
  • Don't Know

    Votes: 16 15.7%

  • Total voters
    102
Deal will go through raising questions means nothing .

after rise of china we are not worry abut US equipment ban. if it was 2000 or 90s i was crying river but today i am laughing we have all weather ally next door and they are capable to build 5th gen fighters . USA can take their f-16 and insert them from their back. its 2016 whom is dying for f-16 ?
Source is HT .as a law maker u can raise the questions nothing wrong but for 8 jets ??It will go through I saw pic of new J20 I think it will fit our maritime requirements .
 
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I don't understand why in the first place we are buying F-16s?

I think the opposition in Pakistan should raise this concern in Parliament and 'question' further purchases of any sort from the US. This is a befitting reply to US.
 
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Do not hope that our parliament have balls. They are so cheep minded they never say a single word against US maybe they'll refuse visa to them.
 
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Pak is paying from his pocket so it's about 500 millions .Look to buy Mig 35 same engine like jf 17 can be tailored for our needs or Pak can add more Jf 17 .But it will go through they know Pak has a lot of options those days gone .
 
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ATM the sale prospects look a bit tepid.. Not bcz the souce is Indian but rather bcz last few months sentiments in US mainstream media has been too much negative for Pakistan. As such their media and law makers are a powerful proponent of their system. The congress is more of republicans and obama a democrat is at the very end of his tenure. Things are not always as it looks.

If Pakistan government led by Nawaz Sharif along with PA Gen Raheel Sharif picks up even the lowest of the rats of JeM/UJC who hold no strategic importance for the jihadis, that "credible" action is enough for USA to overcome their emotional issues and authorize the military aid and 16s sale.

I am no expert on this topic but just gave my view.. Let me tag @Viper0011. Mate, how are things looking for Pakistan in US media as of now.. You think Congress would support GOP with few last month negative outlook after the domestic attack in USA soil and now Indian and Afghanistan attack..You think Obama and Kerry could get this done?
 
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why does Pakistan buy fighters when they make them locally with China?
 
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ATM the sale prospects look a bit tepid.. Not bcz the souce is Indian but rather bcz last few months sentiments in US mainstream media has been too much negative for Pakistan. As such their media and law makers are a powerful proponent of their system. The congress is more of republicans and obama a democrat is at the very end of his tenure. Things are not always as it looks.

If Pakistan government led by Nawaz Sharif along with PA Gen Raheel Sharif picks up even the lowest of the rats of JeM/UJC who hold no strategic importance for the jihadis, that "credible" action is enough for USA to overcome their emotional issues and authorize the military aid and 16s sale.

I am no expert on this topic but just gave my view.. Let me tag @Viper0011. Mate, how are things looking for Pakistan in US media as of now.. You think Congress would support GOP with few last month negative outlook after the domestic attack in USA soil and now Indian and Afghanistan attack..You think Obama and Kerry could get this done?
It's not a big number plus they need pak dos not matter what main stream media says .
 
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F-16 sale delayed in US Congress - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
WASHINGTON: The US Congress has stalled a planned sale of eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, although the Obama administration is still trying to undo the hold, congressional and diplomatic sources told Dawn.

The hold reflects the growing anti-Pakistan sentiments on Capitol Hill where it is now a routine to see strong attacks on Pakistan and its policies during congressional hearings.

Lawmakers used clarification and information notices to delay the sale. The administration also received a “hold” notice from the Senate, using this legislative process to delay floor action on the proposed sale to Pakistan.

The hold, however, does not kill the measure and it can still go through if the administration continues to push for it. Sources on the Hill say that since the Obama administration is keen on selling these aircraft to Pakistan, it may ultimately succeed in undoing the hold.

At recent congressional hearings, key US lawmakers raised a host of questions about the end use of the F-16 aircraft and about the US relationship with Pakistan.

“I don’t know how an F-16, with all of its hardware on there for combat can be used for humanitarian aid. If they were buying C-130s … I could see those being used for humanitarian aid. But F-16! It’s not really humanitarian aid,” said Congressman Ted Poe. “Those F-16s and the military equipment that we are providing Pakistan are being used against their own people, just like they did against the people over there in Bangladesh,” said Congressman Dan Rohrabacher.

Both lawmakers belong to a growing lobby in Congress which not only oppose arms sales to Pakistan but often urge the US administration to sever its ties with the country. Usually, such lawmakers are also active in the Indian caucus on Capitol Hill.

Pakistan does have a caucus on the Hill but it is small and ineffective. The Indian caucus, however, has grown gradually in size and influence and is now the second most effective lobby after Israel’s.

Diplomatic sources acknowledged that lawmakers had placed a hold on the proposed sale. They said the Obama administration ‘informally’ notified Congress of its intention to sell eight F-16s to Pakistan during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Washington last October.

The administration followed it up with a formal notification of “foreign military financing” to fund the sale in early December. The next, and final, stage would have been a formal notification of sale. But this process has been stalled by lawmakers, using clarifications notifications and at least on legislative hold placed by a Democratic senator.

Explore: Pakistan in talks with US to procure latest F-16 jets: Air chief

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2016
 
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Times has changed, US needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs US
I think its otherwise. With Pakistan and China becoming partners in various fields, US needs some other country to hamper Chinese influence in the region.
 
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