'You're not fooling anybody': Jaishankar slams US for F-16 deal with Pakistan ahead of his meeting with Blinken

"Very honestly, it"s a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving the American interests. So, it is really for the United States today to reflect on what are the merits of this relationship and what do they get by it," Jaishankar said.

NewsBharati    26-Sep-2022 11:38:50 AM
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Washington DC, September 26: Raising questions over the United States' decision of approving a USD 450-million sustenance package for the F-16 fleet to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S jaishankar said no one is followed by claims that these highly capable fighters aircraft are meant only for counter-terrorism operations.
 
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Jaishankar slammed the US saying America's relationship with Pakistan has not served either of the two countries.
 
"Very honestly, it's a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving the American interests. So, it is really for the United States today to reflect on what are the merits of this relationship and what do they get by it," Jaishankar said.
 
 
 
It should be highlighted that Jaishankar made these remarks ahead of his meeting with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
 
 
 
Referring to the argument made by the US that the F-16 sustenance package is to fight terrorism, he said everybody knows where and against whom F-16s are used. "You're not fooling anybody by saying these things," he said in response to a question.
 
Early this month, the Biden administration approved a USD 450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment program to Pakistan, reversing the decision of the previous Trump administration to suspend military aid to Islamabad for providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
 
In a notification to the US Congress, the State Department made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale for sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 450 million, arguing that this will sustain Islamabad's capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet.
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