- Kirby says Islamabad should put forward national funds for purchase as key members object to FMF use
- Sartaj says fighter jets can be acquired from elsewhere if Washington does not arrange funding
As the United States opposes conditions to the release of appropriated foreign assistance funds to Pakistan, including sale of eight F-16 fighter jets, its ally in war on terror says aircraft will be acquired from elsewhere if the US does not arrange funding.
“As a matter of longstanding principle, the Department of State opposes conditions to the release of appropriated foreign assistance funds,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing on Monday.
To a question on what was the (Obama) administration considering to deal with the situation arising out of a hold for last several months put by the Congress, Kirby refused to go into details, but said that Ambassador Olson had, in his April 27 testimony, made it clear that effective engagement with Pakistan was critical to promoting consolidation of democratic institutions, economic stability and supporting the government’s counter-terrorism activities and capabilities.
Kirby said that such conditions limited the president and secretary’s ability to conduct foreign policy in the best interest of the United States. So while the Congress had approved the sale, he said, key members had made clear that they objected to using Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to support it.
“Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose,” concluded Kirby.
The latest announcement by the US practically kills the deal as Pakistan may find it difficult to buy the planes at two-and-a-half times more than the agreed price.
Pakistan, however, cautioned the US that it would acquire fighter jets from elsewhere if the US does not arrange funding for the sale.
Addressing a seminar on nuclear non-proliferation, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan had earlier reached an understanding with the US for buying eight F-16 planes. Under the deal, he recalled, Pakistan was required to pay about $270m from its national funds while the US was supposed to provide the rest from its FMF.
Last Friday, a State Department official said that Congress had placed a hold on the deal, forbidding the administration from using US funds for enabling Pakistan to buy the fighter planes.
Aziz said Pakistan valued the F-16s for their effectiveness, but said that they could be replaced by JF-17 Thunder jets in its anti-terrorism campaign.
Aziz expressed concern over India’s growing military power, and said if it wasn’t checked Pakistan would be “forced to increase its strategic power” too. “The international community should avoid steps which may disturb the strategic balance in South Asia,” Aziz warned.
He also said that concessions given to India over nuclear missile material would result in instability and increase in usage of weapons.
The adviser reiterated Pakistan government’s resistance towards handing Dr Shakeel Afridi over to American authorities. “We have rejected American pressure on Pakistan regarding Afridi, who helped the US trace Osama bin Laden. For the US, he is a hero but for Pakistan he is a criminal,” he stated.
“Afridi’s case is under review by a tribunal, and he is also suspected of links with terrorist organisations,” Aziz added.
The adviser also confirmed that an Afghan Taliban delegation from Doha was in Islamabad for explanatory contacts and such contacts were maintained by all members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group.
Last week, the Afghan Taliban’s spokesperson in Doha formally confirmed that a delegation from their political office in Qatar was visiting Pakistan and promised “fruitful results”, but rejected the impression that the group was there to discuss participation in peace talks with Kabul.
Aziz also said that Pakistan had forwarded several suggestions to free the region from nuclear weapons and was also playing responsible role in this respect. He said that Pakistan’s command and control programme was ready to face any challenge as it was according to the international missile technology. The adviser said Pakistan’s nuclear safety paradigm was dynamic and responsive against the entire range of possible threats.
He said Islamabad was committed to nuclear security and had been proactively engaged with the international community to promote nuclear safety and security.
Aziz said Pakistan was a peace-loving country but it was compelled to pursue nuclear deterrence in the face of growing threat to its security and integrity.