Washington’s duty, obligation: US State Secy Antony Blinken defends US-Pakistan F-16 fleet deal

Amid hypothesis over overseas affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar’s tackle the US-Pakistan deal on the F-16 fleet, US state secretary Antony Blinken stated the deal was to fight terrorism. The assertion holds relevance as Jaishankar, in a stern method, urged Washington and Islamabad to introspect on the rationale behind the deal on some of the superior fighter jets.

“…Very honestly, it’s a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving American interests. So, it’s really for the US today to reflect on what the merits are of this relationship (US-Pakistan ties) and what they get by it,” Jaishankar had stated whereas interacting with Indian-Americans in New York.

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Following this, Blinken was questioned in regards to the deal, to which, he stated, “The f-16 package for Pakistan was to help fight terror.”

“To be very clear, this is a sustainment programme for F-16s that Pakistan has long had. These are old planes and systems that they already have. We have a responsibility and obligation to whoever we provide military supplies to maintain and sustain them. Pakistan’s programme bolsters its capability to fight terror and terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan or from the region. It is in no one’s interest for them to go forward with impunity. This capability that Pakistan has can benefit all of us in dealing with terrorism,” Blinken stated.

PAKISTAN REBUTS JAISHANKAR’S JIBE

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s overseas affairs workplace replied to Jaishankar’s remarks on the US-Pakistan deal over army plane. In a press launch, the workplace stated that ties between Islamabad and the US had been ‘sturdy’ and that India ought to ‘respect’ norms and ‘chorus’ from commenting on bilateral ties.

Pakistan’s ministry’s assertion learn, “Responding to media questions about unwarranted remarks by the Indian Minister for External Affairs, the spokesperson said that Pakistan has a longstanding and broad-based relationship with the United States…”

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“In recent months, Pakistan-US relations have become robust and multidimensional, further deepening people-to-people and bilateral ties. Both countries are constructively engaged to maintain regional peace and security,” it said.

“India is strongly urged to respect basic norms of inter-state relations and refrain from commenting on the bilateral ties between the US and Pakistan. India also needs serious introspection of its diplomatic conduct,” Pakistan’s overseas affairs ministry stated.

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