Washington DC: Even as Washington readies to sell 77 F-16s to Pakistan, defence experts and Congressmen argue whether warplanes are going to help Islamabad fight terrorism.
Defence expert Selig Harrison said F-16s are unsuitable to fight terrorists. "You need helicopters and communications equipment, not warplanes."
"Pakistan doesn't say it needs to fight terrorists, what it says is you need us in the war against terror and you have to pay us to be your ally in the war against terror, you have to buy us off," he adds.
A similar sentiment is growing among sections of Congressmen. They say the billion of dollars Pakistan plans to spend on F-16s are better spent on its earthquake victims.
American Congressman Eni Faleomavaega says, "Are they more fearful that India is going to attack them for wanting to add another major portion of their budget into defence purposes and not for this crisis?"
Considering an F-16 costs up to $40 million?depending upon the model and the configuration?the money is better spent on reconstruction than in defence, they say.
It's also argued that selling F-16s to Pakistan could send a wrong signal to India. The decision could have far-reaching consequences at a time when America is looking for countries that could balance China's growing power in Asia.
Comments
0 comment