India should not be concerned over F-16 sale to Pakistan, says Pentagon

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WASHINGTON: The us Department of Defense same on Tuesday that the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan shouldn't be a reason for concern to Bharat because the deal "always" took into consideration the regional security state of affairs.

India has expressed its disappointment at the choice by the Obama Administration to sell to sell eight Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, together with coaching, microwave radar and different instrumentation to assist the country in its scheme operations.

Pakistan expressed surprise over the Indian reaction to the planned deal, value $699 million.

Read; Pakistan aghast by Indian reaction over F-16 issue

Asked at an arrangement regarding India's reaction to the U.S. call to sell the craft to Pakistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook same the us appearance at its relationship with Pakistan which with Bharat as “separate relationships".

"We assume this can be vital capabilities for the Pakistanis to travel once terrorists in this country," the interpreter same touching on the F-16 fighter jets.

“We do not assume it ought to cause concern for Bharat.”

Also read: U.S. problems ‘national interest’ certification for fighter jets sale

The decision by the U.S. State Department to sell extra F-16 craft to Pakistan and a sequent notification to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), that brokers government-to-government arms sale, came within the face of staunch resistance by the Bharatn lobby in Washington and a few U.S. Congressmen WHO argued these fighter jets would be used against India.

The planned F-16 deal conjointly faced opposition from some critics in Washington, together with Pakistan's former ambassador to U.S. Hussain Haqqani, WHO argued against providing this security help to Pakistan during a written testimony to the Congress on Dec eight.

But, these efforts were discomfited by senior diplomats in Washington WHO remained engaged with the Hill and met many Senators and Congressmen in recent weeks to form a case for Pakistan.

This was in continuation of a full of life reaching with members of the Congress that conjointly saw Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and therefore the Chief of Army employees information Raheel Sharif visiting the the Hill last November.

The DSCA whereas notifying the Congress declared that the sale won't alter the essential military balance within the region and contributes to the U.S. policy objectives and national security goals by serving to to boost the protection of a strategic partner in South Asia.

Pentagon interpreter once more reiterated the purpose at the press making known regarding the importance of the F-16 deal.

"We assume this [sale of aircraft] could be a capability which will facilitate Pakistan in its scheme effort and that we assume that is within the national security interests of the us," he said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry last week sent his department’s annual budget to Congress, proposing a monetary help of $859.8m for Pakistan, which has $265m for military hardware. this means that Pakistan can need to bear most of the prices for the F-16 deal.

The planned deal can currently undergo a 30-day notification amount once that it'll be finalised.

The new craft can boost Pakistan’s sizable force of fighter jets which has quite seventy F-16s and dozens of French and Chinese airplane, the report same.
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