US to sell jet fighters to Pakistan
25/03/2005 - 17:38:44The US has agreed to sell sophisticated F-16 fighter planes to both India and its next-door rival Pakistan.
India immediately expressed its anger to President George Bush.
It is a diplomatically sensitive move that rewards Pakistan for help in the war on terrorism but angers India, a democratic US ally.
Bush called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to tell him of the long-anticipated decision.
Singh “conveyed to President Bush his great disappointment over the US’ decision”, Sanjaya Baru, the prime minister’s spokesman said. Singh said sales to Pakistan endanger security in the region, Baru said.
A senior US official disagreed.
“The sale of F-16s will not change the overall balance of military power in the region and are vital to Pakistan’s security as Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf prosecutes the war on terror,” he said.
The sales to both countries are intended to reassure India the US is not playing favourites.
“If the US is giving the planes to Pakistan, it will create better feelings among the people for America,” Pakistan’s Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.
“This will fulfil our defence requirements. We had been lagging behind (India) in conventional weapons. This will improve the situation,” Ahmed said.
The sales to two nuclear countries that have warred over the Kashmir territory could raise eyebrows among US allies in Europe who are under White House pressure not to lift an arms embargo on China.
The administration argues European weapons could contribute to raising tensions with Taiwan.
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