US approves potential sale of F-16 equipment to Pakistan: Pentagon

KShehzad

New Member
5 Warning points issued for copy paste w/o comment
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In a major development, the US State Department gave its nod to the potential sale of F-16 fighter jet sustainment and related equipment to Pakistan in a deal valued at up to $450 million, confirmed Pentagon Wednesday.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corp, said the Pentagon.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Pakistan of F-16 Case for Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $450 million," according to a statement issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

It said that the release includes the US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics services to support Pakistan's F-16 fleet.

The release further said that this sale does not provide Pakistan with any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions.

The US government's agency underscored, "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations."

It further said the proposed sale would continue the sustainment of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, which greatly improves Pakistan’s ability to support counterterrorism operations through its robust air-to-ground capability. Pakistan will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces, it said.

It said the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale, it added.
 
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Hari Sud

New Member
I would say that General Bajawa, the Pakistani COAS has done three things right to get into the American lap, just before his retirement.

1. He made sure that anti American Imran Khan, the last prime minister is booted out, by engineering a parliamentary coup.

2. He got the remaining Al Qaida leader and America’s enemy….. Zawahiri killed in Afghanistan with an American missile. That pleased America very much

3. As a reward he got $450 million in military aid and approval for $6 billion in IMF loan.

This is a remarkable achievement for General Bajawa. No other General in Pakistani history could do this type of job with finesse of a surgeon, yet nobody behind the scene knew what he is upto. Now he has a red carpet welcome at Pentagon and possible hand shake with the US President.

Other previous generals who also were martial law administrator, used brute force to do anything similar. Take the example of General Musharraf, he undercut the politicians and created trouble, then grabbed political power. Before that other generals who grabbed political power, were either religious fanatics or bad politicians.

Internally with India-Pakistan; … 5 years back, he ended the daily Artillery duals across LOC which achieved nothing.

If given time and another extension then, he probably would have ended religious Jihadism within the Army and ended military support to religious fanatics. All this, he would have done by not grabbing the levers of political power.
 

Musashi_kenshin

Well-Known Member
He made sure that anti American Imran Khan, the last prime minister is booted out, by engineering a parliamentary coup.
It wasn't a coup. Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence, which meant he had to resign as Prime Minister.

I know Khan's supporters claimed it was unfair on the basis MPs should support their own party leadership or resign if they disagree with it MPs from the coalition parties should have stuck with PTI or supported a new election. [Corrected per SABRE's post - noted, won't discuss politics further on this thread.] However, because Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy the Prime Minister is not chosen by the electorate, so they can be unseated even if they technically have a majority. MPs in many countries can and do voluntarily switch sides.

Don't forget, Khan's supporters defeated the initial attempt at a vote of no confidence by ensuring it couldn't take place via a dissolution of the national assembly. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that the vote of no confidence went ahead. So the best scenario for Khan's supporters is that both sides were equally nefarious.

That said, I'm sure that the US is happier about the new Pakistani government, such that defence packages like this can now be authorised. Khan was stupid enough to visit Russia on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine. His response that he didn't know what was going on made him look incompetent or a poor liar. And Vivendi over on the Ukraine war thread has suggested that the new Pakistani government has been helping Ukraine via indirect munition shipments. That will give Pakistan some brownie points for sure.
 
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SABRE

Super Moderator
Verified Defense Pro
It wasn't a coup. Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence, which meant he had to resign as Prime Minister.

I know Khan's supporters claimed it was unfair on the basis MPs should support their own party leadership or resign if they disagree with it. However, because Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy the Prime Minister is not chosen by the electorate, so they can be unseated even if they technically have a majority. MPs in many countries can and do voluntarily switch sides.

Don't forget, Khan's supporters defeated the initial attempt at a vote of no confidence by ensuring it couldn't take place via a dissolution of the national assembly. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that the vote of no confidence went ahead. So the best scenario for Khan's supporters is that both sides were equally nefarious.


That said, I'm sure that the US is happier about the new Pakistani government, such that defence packages like this can now be authorised. Khan was stupid enough to visit Russia on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine. His response that he didn't know what was going on made him look incompetent or a poor liar. And Vivendi over on the Ukraine war thread has suggested that the new Pakistani government has been helping Ukraine via indirect munition shipments. That will give Pakistan some brownie points for sure.
Political talk is deviating from the topic at hand so I would suggest it best be avoided. However, I would weigh in with one overlooked fact that the rebel parliamentarians of Imran Khan's party (PTI), in fact, did not vote in the no confidence motion against him, which would have been a constitutional violation. Khan lost the vote of confidence because the coalition parties, who were under no legal obligation not to leave his government and vote against him decided to do just that and support the opposition candidate for the premiership.

On the other hand, despite the current governments subjective neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War there is nevertheless a strong pro-Russia sentiment (though not an anti-Ukraine sentiment) in the Pakistani establishment. Sooner or later someone from the pro-Russia section is likely to find their way into power. American promise of steady economic and military assistance, however, is likely to keep the balance in the US' favour, though Russia would remain an important factor in the Pakistani thinking. While Russian assistance, especially the sell of RD-93 engines for JF-17 is crucial, the importance of the F-16s cannot be brushed aside. F-16s are after all superior to JF-17s. If the US decides to sell more and newer F-16s then it is likely to serve as even strong firewall against growing Russian influence.
 
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Hari Sud

New Member
It wasn't a coup. Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence, which meant he had to resign as Prime Minister.

I know Khan's supporters claimed it was unfair on the basis MPs should support their own party leadership or resign if they disagree with it MPs from the coalition parties should have stuck with PTI or supported a new election. [Corrected per SABRE's post - noted, won't discuss politics further on this thread.] However, because Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy the Prime Minister is not chosen by the electorate, so they can be unseated even if they technically have a majority. MPs in many countries can and do voluntarily switch sides.

Don't forget, Khan's supporters defeated the initial attempt at a vote of no confidence by ensuring it couldn't take place via a dissolution of the national assembly. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that the vote of no confidence went ahead. So the best scenario for Khan's supporters is that both sides were equally nefarious.

That said, I'm sure that the US is happier about the new Pakistani government, such that defence packages like this can now be authorised. Khan was stupid enough to visit Russia on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine. His response that he didn't know what was going on made him look incompetent or a poor liar. And Vivendi over on the Ukraine war thread has suggested that the new Pakistani government has been helping Ukraine via indirect munition shipments. That will give Pakistan some brownie points for sure.
‘That is what a parliamentary coup is all about?
 
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