White House Set to Sell New Fighter Jets to Pakistan in Bid to Bolster Partnership

[fatman17]

And there lies the rub! Will it be approved by Congress?

These aircraft are probable replacements to existing ones which have outlived their operational life. It's not going to significantly add to the overall numbers.

all existing F16s are upgraded.

 

[MastanKhan]

And there lies the rub! Will it be approved by Congress?

These aircraft are probable replacements to existing ones which have outlived their operational life. It's not going to significantly add to the overall numbers.

Hi,

There are no such aircraft in the inventory of that category---all the F16 have been upgraded---the Jordanian one were upgraded by the jordanians awhile back----. The fleet is in full operation---and these will be additions----.

If the congress does not approve of them----then the J10C is ready to fill in the hole.

The F16 give the U S leverage over Pakistan----. If the U S lets that last leverage go----it won't help the cause.

Plus it is of utmost importance that the U S has support of Pakistan to resolve the afghan issue that is at a critical stage.

are you talking about Indian congress

Hi,

Well---they think it is the indian congress in Washington---.

 

[fatman17]

I think these would be 8 new F-16 BLOCK 52

yes and since we paying with our own funds we can only buy 8 of the 18 aircraft requested earlier.

 

[monitor]

Good this will ferther improve paf power.

 

[SecularNationalist]

What,s our obsession the F-16? I guess it,s cheaper than others and get the job done?

 

[monitor]

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is preparing to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in an attempt to bolster the two countries' relationship despite Washington's reservations about Pakistan's growing nuclear arsenal, said a report published on The New York Times (NYT) website.

The aircraft sales, which the United States (US) Congress could block, would be a symbolic step given Pakistan's current large fleet of fighter jets.

According to the NYT report, the Congress was notified just days ago about the proposed sale of the additional fighters although it is not clear if the White House plans to announce the sale of the aircraft during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ongoing visit to Washington.

Know more: Nawaz arrives in US on four-day visit

The new fighter jets would add to Pakistan’s sizable force of fighter jets which includes more than 70 F-16s and dozens of French and Chinese attack aircraft, the report said.

Earlier in April, the US State Department approved Pakistan’s request for a billion dollars worth of military hardware and equipment, identifying Pakistan as a country of vital importance for US foreign policy and national interests.

In May this year, the US handed over to Pakistan over 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers, Dawn newspaper had reported. The weapons supplied to Pakistan were earlier used by American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The NYT report says that many in the US Congress are concerned that the F-16 jets are more useful to Pakistan in its long confrontation with India than for counterterrorism operations.

It is not certain whether the Congress will approve the deal. According to NYT, the Congress and the US State Department are already in a standoff over an effort to sell used Navy cutter vessels to Pakistan earlier this year.

In March, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs put a hold on about $150 million in foreign military financing. The committee said the cutters were not essential to fighting militants, NYT quoted American officials as saying.

The decision of the sale of fighter jets comes ahead of Thursday's meeting between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Obama is expected to press Nawaz on the Taliban, nuclear safety and a range of other issues when the troubled allies meet at the White House.

Despite efforts to smooth divisions behind handshakes, smiles and items of agreement, long-standing security concerns are likely to dominate the Oval Office discussions.

Islamabad's alleged ties with the Afghan Taliban, its alleged support for groups opposed to India and the US and its rapidly growing nuclear arsenal are seen by Washington as security headaches.

Washington's relationship with Islamabad is a prickly one, born of a fraught inter-dependency but pollinated by mutual mistrust.

Relations were plunged into deep crisis when 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was discovered to be living in the major Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad.

"The bottom line is that there are a lot of deep disagreements between these two countries," said Michael Kugelman of the Woodrow Wilson Center.

The meeting of Nawaz and Obama comes as the White House increasingly shifts its focus in South Asia to Pakistan's rival India.

Afghan Taliban to table?
But Pakistan remains a key player in the region.

Obama recently announced that US troops would be staying in Afghanistan longer than he had promised, but the White House is keen to get the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

The resurgent Islamists briefly captured the key northern Afghan city of Kunduz this month.

The US sees Pakistan as one of the few sources of influence over the extremists, and analysts say Washington will use the four-day trip to urge Nawaz to keep pushing for a new round of talks. Experts say new Afghan Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour has close ties to Pakistan.

Kabul has accused Islamabad of harbouring and nurturing Afghan Taliban insurgents — allowing them to launch attacks in Afghanistan before melting back across the border.

Obama recently previewed his meeting with Nawaz by saying: "I will continue to urge all parties in the region to press the Taliban to return to peace talks and to do their part in pursuit of the peace that Afghans deserve."

Furthermore, ahead of Nawaz's visit, there have been suggestions that cooperation and a possible deal could be reached on Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

During George W. Bush's presidency a deal was reached with India to normalise nuclear cooperation in return for safeguards.

But US officials have poured cold water on that suggestion.

US to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan: report - Pakistan - DAWN.COM


NO thanks we will stick with the offer of SU-35 E Russian Made Type Fankers..

It will take time to fully operational those fighter on the of her hand you can instantly use F-16

 

[Zarvan]

yes and since we paying with our own funds we can only buy 8 of the 18 aircraft requested earlier.

Well I hope we soon buy other 10 also making it complete squadron

 

[Dalit]

I'm very sceptical. Pakistan should not be buying anymore F-16s with its own money. These aircraft have stringent usage conditions. More importantly, we need this money to buy aircraft which aren't sanction prone such as Su-35 or Chinese fighters. The F-16s are good fighters, but we need to look beyond.

I think this is a US proposition and we need to ditch it. They are sweating at the moment when they see how rapidly the relationship between Pakistan and Russia/China is developing. The Americans obviously don't have anything else to offer apart from F-16s or soya beans.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Very small number , most likely old options package we had with old deal

 

[fatman17]

I'm very sceptical. Pakistan should not be buying anymore F-16s with its own money. These aircraft have stringent usage conditions. More importantly, we need this money to buy aircraft which aren't sanction prone such as Su-35 or Chinese fighters. The F-16s are good fighters, but we need to look beyond.

I think this is a US proposition and we need to ditch it. They are sweating at the moment when they see how rapidly the relationship between Pakistan and Russia/China is developing. The Americans obviously don't have anything else to offer apart from F-16s or soya beans.

there are no conditions.

 

[dilpakistani]

What would we do with them. PAF has to accept the fact that USPAK relationship is over. It wouldn't be same again ... grab the opportunity if there is some seriousness in Su-35. 5-6 squardns of Su-35 will give us standing chance against any aggression... 10 - 15 F-16s can't do it ...

 

[fatman17]

Well I hope we soon buy other 10 also making it complete squadron

this is how NS govt. works with our military. tight purse strings.

What would we do with them. PAF has to accept the fact that USPAK relationship is over. It wouldn't be same again ... grab the opportunity if there is some seriousness in Su-35. 5-6 squardns of Su-35 will give us standing chance against any aggression... 10 - 15 F-16s can't do it ...

money is the prime hurdle.

 

[Dalit]

there are no conditions.

So, the PAF would be able to use these 8 F-16s without prior permission of the US? Meaning they can take them abroad to missions and excercises? These F-16s wouldn't fall under the monitoring regime like the other PAF F-16s? Also, what would be the price of these fighters?

Had these been funded by the Americans I would have taken them even with pre-conditions. I wouldn't pay a dime for this fighter when we really have killer alternatives at our disposal.

This move however exposes how desperate the Americans are in their relation vis a vis Pakistan.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Congress will not approve the sale.

Kid we are not discussing Indian Congress.

 

[Bilal Khan 777]

Congress will not approve the sale.

Its a continuation of the already approved Block 52 aircraft, which was not completely utilised. Indian lobbyists in Washington can lick their wounds, once again.