Despite stiff opposition from some key lawmakers, the Obama administration has gone ahead and notified the US Congress of its decision to sell eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at a cost of nearly $700 million.
Acting on a Pakistani request that gained prominence on the eve of PM Nawaz Sharif’s visit last October, the State Dept has now approved the possible sale, prompting Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency to notify the Congress as required. “This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia,” the agency said in its notification, asserting that the sale will not alert the basic military balance in the region.
The notification comes just two days after Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker warned the administration that he would block the “subsidized” sale since Pakistan continued to provide a safe haven to the Haqqani network that has been targeting US-trained security forces in Afghanistan. Justifying the proposed sale, the notification said the new F-16s will enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations and improve its capability to meet current and future security threats.