Pakistani-US F-16 deal hits another snag

The rift between Washington and Islamabad may further delay the sale of eight F-16s fighters to Pakistan. Source: Pakistan Air Force

Key Points

• The US has dropped the subsidy it had offered for Pakistan's purchase of eight F-16s
• Islamabad insists the deal must be 'free of any preconditions'

The US sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Pakistan may have hit another snag. A senior Pakistani government official said on 7 May that Islamabad would not accept any "preconditions" attached to the purchase of eight US-made F-16C/D Block 52 multirole fighters, causing further uncertainty about the deal and possibly prompting Islamabad to look elsewhere for alternatives.

Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that, while Pakistan needs the aircraft for its ongoing campaign against Taliban militants, the F-16 transaction "must come free of any preconditions".

The statement comes after the US State Department told reporters on 3 May that Pakistan would have to "put forward national funds" to buy the fighter jets after members of the US Congress objected to using the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme to subsidise the deal.

This means that Pakistan will have to pay the full amount of USD699 million for the eight US-made fighters along with associated equipment. Originally, deal was supposed to cost the South Asian nation around USD270 million, with the rest of the funds - USD430 million - coming from the FMF.

The US State Department approved the F-16 sale, comprising two single-seat F-16Cs and six twin-seat F-16Ds, in February. However, the deal has been opposed by some members of the US Congress on the grounds that Pakistan has not done enough against insurgents and terrorist groups.

The differing viewpoints and delays have had an impact. A Pakistani government official recently told IHS Jane's that "alternative aircraft from other sources are being considered should the F-16 deal collapse". In fact, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been looking at Chinese-manufactured J-10 and the J-20 stealth fighters for future purchase and Western defence officials have told IHS Jane's that Moscow has informed Islamabad about its willingness to sell a batch of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters.

(Source : janes.com)

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