The sale of F-16’s to Pakistan strongly undermines our long-term strategic interests. Do we stand for more democracy around the world or coddling another dictatorship? Have we learnt nothing from our support of fundamentalists and dictators in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places? Ignoring long-term principles for short-term strategic gains is bound to come back to haunt us through blow back. Let us not forget that a similar short-term strategic logic, active US support and dubious actions led to Osama Bin-Laden, Taliban and the nexus between fundamentalists and the ISI of Pakistan.
This is the same Pakistan that does not allow us to talk to Dr. Khan. This is the same Pakistan that claims that the government knew nothing while Khan was using Pakistani military planes to ship nuclear materials abroad. This is the same Pakistan which has one of the worst human rights records.
It is a vacuous argument to say that Pakistan needs F-16’s for its defense. Defense against whom? India? China? Afghanistan? Iran? None of these countries have invaded Pakistan since its creation. India may be cited as an exception but that is only in response to hostilities INITIATED by Pakistan. India has never threatened the integrity of Pakistan. The vice versa is the “life-support” of Pakistan’s. What the fundamentalist fail to do – divide India completely along religious lines – Pakistan wants to do both actively and by proxy. Let us also not forget that Pakistan is a declared theocracy and wants to dismantle India – a country with more Muslims than Pakistan - along religious lines.
The only reason for supply these nuclear-weapon-delivery-capable F-16’s to Pakistan is so Pakistan can act as a counterbalance to India. If that is the game we want to play, then so be it. But let us not fool ourselves that it will do anything other than persuade India to consider our country as an unreliable long-term strategic partner.
I think this is stupid. As an ex-Indian. I want Pakistan to get 400 F-16's. They should pay for more tanks, submarines while simultaneously trying to compete with the neighbors on economic and military basis. I want them to spend more and more money on military infra as HDI indicators keep going south. Weapons are depreciable assets while people assets appreciate. Something the knuckleheads don't get.
Oh and Anjann...this is a letter not a friggin policy paper on NRI-POI stances which is well researched and thought out. While makes for good bombast. I am sure the Indian lobby already has this under control. POI and NRI's should not waste time sending letters to Barbara Boxer, send them to the B.O.D's of all major corporations.
^ I agree with matsui. Americans had promised to pay mushy for being a good chamcha. It is better to pay them with over priced klunkers than cash. It is good for US economy and we can get rid of excess inventory. Otherwise, we may have to ship low qualtity wheat or soybeans destined for feeding pigs and cattle in Kansas.
I agree with your point. Pak will get F16 but with lots of strings attached.
Any way who cares about f16s anymore, they arent good anymore.
its like shadi jawani me hui aur vidai boodhape me:D
the money was returned in the form of a few tons of soya beans. i dont know what pak did with the soya beans though.. probably fed it to some fat soldiers to manufacture WMDs and nerve gas.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has already got its entire amount of $350 million back from the US government on account of purchase of 40 F-16 aircraft two years ago and now it would be required to make fresh payments if a new deal is struck during President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the US, sources said.
The US F-16 account was closed during the military government of General Musharraf. The US had returned the F-16 amount in many instalments and no interest was paid for keeping the money in US treasury for over 15 years.
Pakistan was made by the US to adjust 0.3 million tons of wheat in F-16 accounts although the same wheat was earlier delivered free of cost. Likewise, the US imposed soybean sale on Pakistan to settle the F-16 account.
In early 80s Pakistan made payments for the purchase of as many as 40 new F-16 jets. But later the US government refused to deliver the planes on the grounds that Pakistan was making progress on nuclear programme.
Not only delivery of the planes was stopped but Pakistan was made to make massive payments on account of storage charges of these fighter jets standing in the sheds of the manufacturing company. The US neither delivered the planes nor returned the amount for 15 years despite efforts by the successive governments of Pakistan.
What makes the U.S. such a close buddy of Pakistan so that it would secretly arm Pakistan to become a “surprise” military power against another friendly state that it needs more than Pakistan in the long run? Especially, when Pakistan’s reliability with arms is in question with the nuclear proliferation scandal.
Indians need to get a life... Trying to be the paragon of virtues, and the nanny of the entire region doesnt stop at Delhi alone, its a national Phenomenon.
Are we expected to roll over and die while India acquires massive Arms of all kinds from everywhere in the world!
^There is no need to roll over and die. It's just that U.S. is a short term ally and will go away from Pak without a doubt. They have no interest in strengthening Pakistan as counterbalance to India. They want India to be really strong, strong enough to contain China. It is China who will want to counterbalance Pak with India. So, in the future...my prediction is we'll see much more military cooperation b/w China, N. Kor, and Pak on one side, and U.S./India/Israel on the other side.
China will be Pakistan's new Father, benefactor and protector. Pakistan and to lesser degree, India are nothing but pawns in the Great Game b/w the U.S. and China.
if a nation has the power to stop an arch-rival from acquiring arms that, if used, will certainly be used solely against them…you are saying they should voluntarily pass up the chance to prevent it to keep things fair and equal? that is total stupidity.
if pakistan had even 1/10th the influence over sales of arms that India has, they’d be hollering even louder. it’s easy to maintain a moral high ground when you know you have no power to do anything even if you wanted to.
but don’t worry, pakistan will probably get the f-16’s anyways, though it might take another 15-20 years. it really doesn’t matter either way.
i just asked my dad 
