Posted on 03/25/2005 7:31:39 AM PST by Saberwielder
US to sell F-16s to Pak, Bush tells Manmohan
Press Trust of India
New Delhi, March 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today conveyed to President George W. Bush India's "great disappointment" on US proposal to sell F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan.
"The Prime Minister received a telephone call from the US President this evening. They had a wide-ranging conversation," PMO spokesman Sanjaya Baru said.
"The US President, among other things, spoke about his administration's decision to propose the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan.
"The Prime Minister expressed India's great disappointment at this decision which could have negative consequences for India's security environment," Baru said. India had registered its opposition to US sale of F-16 multi-role nuclear-capable fighters to Pakistan last week also when the issue figured in the talks between External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and visiting American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "We did express certain concerns on certain matters on the defence issue. It might create some complications," Singh said referring to F-16 issue after the talks.
A poor move.
Ping!
I'll bet India is overwelmed with joy.
We have a double post here!
To: CarrotAndStick
Pakistan has been an essential and cooperative ally in the war on terror.
2 posted on 03/25/2005 10:29:16 AM EST by Larry381 (This tagline closed for repairs until 2006)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1370530/posts
Indeed, this is a bad, bad idea. I consider this country part of the opposition in the war on terror
Agree. For now Pakistan has been somewhat cooperative but it is likely only a matter of time before the current regime is overthrown and another much less cooperative one is put in place. Sells of defensive weapons would be more understandable but this sort of thing just doesn't seem very wise.
On the other hand we supplied Iran weapons for years when the Shah was in power and when the mullahs took over we stopped shipping them replacement parts, etc. and their military suffered during the Iran-Iraq war because of this. Being a weapons supplier does offer some measure of control and power over Pakistan, though I am doubtful that this is sufficient justification for the sale.
By the time,the US embargoes the sale of spareparts to Pakistan (in the event of a crisis),what is the guarantee that Mumbai,Delhi or American forces in Afghanistan wouldn't have been at the receiving end of a non-conventional payload delivered by a Jihadi pilot????The example of the Iran-Iraq war is rather dated in today's context as current "hot" conflicts don't last even 6 months.
Actually Pakistan already has quite a number of French Mirages and Chinese A-5's that can carry tactical nukes. I agree that the example of the Iran-Iraq war is dated but still supplying Pakistan does give the U.S. some leverage. And you can be certain that if the U.S. didn't sell to them then the Chinese or French certainly would.
Anyways, as I said before, I don't like it.
About Pakistan already having N-capable aircraft,why should the US add a few to the tally???France has put a temporary stop to new sales to Pakistan as it eyes a much bigger pie in India(potential contracts for upto 6 new subs+126 fighters worth close to 10 billion US$).Besides I don't think Pakistan could have afforded (expensive)French weaponry,given their financial condition.
PS-they are getting the FC-1 fighter which China had developed for them,so no point in talking about China selling if the US didn't.
Talk about leverage, during which Indo-Pak war did America use its "leverage" and stop the supplies during a war?
This is real bad news. If I know India well, this is not likely to go down well with India. To tell the truth it seems Condi's trip was a disaster. She was simply bullsh*tting us all the time. Thats it, I think we must refuse any future alliance with America.
"Thats it, I think we must refuse any future alliance with America."
Well, that's too bad. I guess we won't be seeing you around here anymore. It was nice chatting with you.
"Well, that's too bad. I guess we won't be seeing you around here anymore. It was nice chatting with you."
And why should that be?
My impression was that you were here on FR because you liked America and saw America as a potential ally of India. Since apparently you have reached a breaking point and your view has changed I don't see why you'd want to waste anymore time with us. Don't the French have some sort of "Liberte Republique?" ;-)
Why exactly are you mixing personal relationships with political view points?
As I said before I have NO hatred for Americans and I still have the highest regards for them.
And in your own words (IIRC): This is politics and it isnt pretty.
Like for you the US comes first, for me India comes first. And from my (and majority of the Indian) point of view, this act of the US is likely to deter any possible future alliance between India and the US. I wish America well and if your country gains anything out of this deal then good for you but its we who will be at the receiving end for this wrong move made by your government.
Your government sells weapons to our enemies. How do you expect any Indian to like it?
My brother was in the Indian Army and he died fighting those very enemies your government is arming now.
At individual level I still consider Americans to be my friend but I still have my own individual view-points in as far as international politics is concerned.
Apparently even your views have changed.
Correction: My borther in-law died in kashmir.
"Why exactly are you mixing personal relationships with political view points?"
If you want to develop personal relationship then I would suggest that politics is probably not the topic of discussion.
In any case, I already made it clear several times that I do not like the sale. However, in reality the sale is probably going to be relatively small and the U.S. has offered the same to India - and actually more, including the patriot missile system which Pakistan strongly opposes. In the past France has sold plenty of weapons to Pakistan and doubtlessly they will sell more in the future. Maybe this is so big that it demands that all future alliances be refused, but my feeling is that this is just over-heated rhetoric and emotion speaking as I doubt that this sale is going to have a significant impact on the balance of power.
"Your government sells weapons to our enemies. How do you expect any Indian to like it?"
Did I say I expect you to like it? I don't like it.
"Apparently even your views have changed."
No, I just don't see why you would want to discuss U.S.-Indian relations if you don't want and don't see the potential for a closer alliance. Beyond the political relationship between our countries, if you still enjoy having American friends then I would suggest to you that there are probably better and more enjoyable topics for discussion.
Apparently this is just business as usual for uncle Sam. They knew they could not supply f16's to India so they simply found another buyer.. but now they have a chance to sell PAC-3 or any other air defence system to India. Its all about the MONEY. LM and boeing will regret this for a long time. Now they have no chance of gaining a foothold in India.
I dont think though that its as bad as it appears from Indias perspective.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.