ISLAMABAD, April 30: In response to reports the US Congress is withholding 60 per cent of the aid earmarked for subsidising Pakistan’s purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets, a Pakistani official has said “negotiations aren’t over yet”.
Tariq Fatemi, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, told BBC Radio in an interview that bringing Congress around to the deal is the Obama administration’s job.
According to a BBC report published on its Hindi and Urdu services, a State Department official told the BBC on the condition of anonymity that Congress will not subsidise the sale of eight F-16 jets to Pakistan at the advice of Senator Bob Corker, chair of the Senate Committee for Foreign Relations.
As per earlier arrangement, Pakistan would have paid $270 million while the US would grant the remaining $430 million for the purchase. As a result of this move, Pakistan may have to foot the bill of $700 million for the eight fighter jets.
“There is a strong opposition to provide subsidised arms to other countries in the US Congress, but the Obama administration’s offer of military aid to Pakistan still stands,” Fatemi told.
“Pakistan has already rendered great services in the war against terror, so its case is strong.” Fatemi expressed he is hopeful Pakistan will receive the military aid, and revealed the Pakistan mission in Washington is currently in talks with members of Congress to raise awareness of Islamabad’s views on the matter.
“America understands how important a role these eight F-16s can play in the fight against terror, which is why the request was made in the first place.”
The adviser also mentioned that Pakistan has spent $2 billion in the last two years fighting against terrorism.
According to a news report Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a National Assembly briefing in January said that a deal with the United States for the procurement of eight F-16 fighter jets is facing delays due to “some lobbyists working against us there”.
He said Indian lobby, as well as Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, are “working against us” and had approached the US House of Representatives to lobby against the sale.-Sabah
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