Islamabad: Pakistan has acknowledged that its relations with the United States has seen a ‘downward slide’, especially after the Congress blocked the sale of 8 F-16 fighter jests to Islamabad.
“In the past three months, however, this upward trajectory in the relationship has witnessed a downward slide, as reflected in the decision of the US Congress to block partial funding for 8 F-16 aircraft through the use of FMF (Foreign Military Financing),” Sartaz Aziz, PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs, sais while making a statement during a debate in the Parliament on the F-16 sale.
Aziz also said that the Indian lobby has been making ‘untiring efforts’ to reverse the US decision and block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. He said the government is pursuing the issue of sale of F-16s with the country at different levels and forums.
"The Indian lobby has been making untiring efforts to reverse the US decision, and a strong attempt, through Senator Rand Paul's resolution, to block the sale itself," Aziz said.
"The move was however defeated proving the strong merit of our arguments, and the effectiveness of our outreach to the US at various levels, particularly to the US Congressional leaders," Aziz added.
Aziz said Pakistan Defence Minister has written a letter to his American counterpart highlighting the importance of F-16s in the war against terror. He said Defence Consultative Group of the two countries would meet at the end of next month where this issue would also be substantially discussed.
The Advisor said that Pakistan-US relationship was on positive trajectory during the last three years with significant progress in the realms of political, economic and defence ties.
In February, the US had approved the sale of the F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. However, Congressional opposition repeatedly delayed the signing of a final contract, forcing Washington to cancel the foreign military financing support. The US had recently asked the Pakistan to pay in full if it wanted to go through with the nearly $700 million deal for the F-16s. Pakistan was to get a $429 million subsidy for the jets.
Last week, Aziz had threatened to procure Chinese or Russian fighter aircrafts if US lawmakers continue to block financing for Islamabad’s purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
“If funding is arranged, Pakistan will get the F-16. Otherwise, we will opt for jets from some other place,” Aziz had said.
According to an official of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan is now considering other options including Chinese-made Chengdu J-10 lightweight and J-20 stealth fighter aircraft (still in the development stage), as well as Russian Sukhoi Su-35S multirole fighter jets.
