The U.S. Tells Pakistan That They Will Have To Pay For The F-16s Themselves

Pakistani F-16 fighter jets fly past during the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 23, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

Reuters: U.S. tells Pakistan it will have to fund F-16s itself

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the U.S. Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them.

The U.S. government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million.

However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any U.S. funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants.

Corker's stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabad’s policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan's failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan.

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WNU Editor: Pakistan is still optimistic that the U.S. will give them these fighters .... Still Negotiating F-16 Jet Deal With US, Says Pakistan (NDTV) .... but I suspect that this deal is dead.

More News On The U.S. Scrapping Its Subsidized Sale of F-16s To Pakistan

US 'drops planned Pakistan F-16 fighter jet subsidy' -- BBC
Obama Scraps Subsidy in $700Mln F-16 Sale to Pakistan -- Sputnik
Pakistan may use F-16 fighter jets against India, say US lawmakers -- Indian Express