Attempt to block F-16 sale shot down in US Senate

Washington - Lawmakers vote 71 to 24 against Rand Paul's bid to prevent the sale.

The US Senate on Thursday blocked an effort to prevent the $700 million sale of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, although a key lawmaker said he would not allow the use of US funds to finance it.
Lawmakers voted 71 to 24 against an attempt introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul to prevent the sale under legislation known as the Arms Control Act.
President Barack Obama's administration announced on February 12 that it had approved the sale to Pakistan of the aircraft, as well as radars and other equipment. It drew immediate criticism from India and concern from some members of Congress.
Paul had called Pakistan "an uncertain ally" and other lawmakers expressed concerns about Pakistan's nuclear programme, commitment to fighting terrorist organisations and cooperation in the Afghanistan peace process.
However, they generally supported the sale, saying the South Asian state needs to modernise its air force and counter-terrorism activities.
"Though the government of Pakistan has been considered America's ally in the fight on terrorism, Pakistan's behaviour would suggest otherwise," Paul said. "While we give them billions of dollars in aid, we are simultaneously aware of their intelligence and military apparatus assisting the Afghan Taleban."
That Paul secured support from nearly a quarter of the Senate underscores how fractured the relationship between the two countries has become. Washington has openly accused Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence, of supporting the Haqqani network, a Taleban faction that is also a US-declared terrorist group. The ISI has denied the allegations.
Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any US funds for the deal.
In a statement, Corker said, "Prohibiting a taxpayer subsidy sends a much-needed message to Pakistan that it needs to change its behaviour, but preventing the purchase of US aircraft would do more harm than good by paving the way for countries like Russia and China to sell to Pakistan while also inhibiting greater cooperation on counterterrorism."
The United States identified Pakistan as a key partner in its war against terror following the September 11, 2001, attacks and spent billions of dollars on military aid to help the country fight insurgents.
Corker said that he and Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the committee, have agreed to bar the use of any US financial support for the deal until "there are behavior changes that take place in Pakistan."
The sale also gives the US leverage with Islamabad, Corker said. The F-16 deal comes with 30 years of maintenance, which Corker said could be withdrawn at any time. That would leave Pakistan without the parts and expertise to keep the high-tech aircraft in the air.
"Publicly embarrassing them and sending them to Russia or to France to buy fighter jets ends that leverage," Corker said.

• Pakistan