Pakistan-US ties ‘on a slide over F-16s’

Aziz candidly admitted to the Senate that Pakistan-US ties were under stress for the past three months over the F-16 issue but the two were working to resolve it. “In the past three months, however, the upward trajectory in relations has witnessed a downward slide, as reflected in a decision of the US Congress to block partial funding for eight F-16 aircraft,” Aziz said on Thursday during a debate on the US decision to withdraw a proposed subsidy on the sale of F-16s.

Aziz also mentioned the ‘India factor’ for at least three times during his speech. “The Indian lobby has been making untiring efforts to reverse the US decision, and a strong attempt, through Senator Rand Paul’s resolution, to block the sale itself.” 

But “we have forcefully rejected Indian objections to the sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan and drawn attention to the wide ranging defence deals concluded between India and the US during US Defence Secretary’s recent visit to India. We have also emphasised the importance of maintaining strategic stability in South Asia,” the adviser said. He said Pakistan was working to improve ties.