United States has informed Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of US F-16 fighter jets. The decision was conveyed to Pakistan after members of the US Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them.
The US government had decided to sell 8 F-16 fighter jets, and radar and other equipment to Pakistan. Apparently it was done to bolster Pakistan’s capabilities to fight terrorism. The agreement was valued at 699 million US dollars.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the opposition by Congress meant that funds from the US government’s Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft.
Kirby told local US media that the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including supporting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism effort, was critical to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country.
India has formally opposed the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan by USA. India said its an offensive platform that would be used against India and was not likely to be used in anti terror operations.
