India objects to US sale of 18 fighter jets to Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, July 3, IRNA
India-Pak-F-16 Sale
India on Monday objected to the US decision to sell eighteen F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, and said the move is 'not conducive' to the improvement of ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.
India pointed out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had during his meeting with US President George W Bush expressed 'disappointment' over such a move.
"This step is not conducive to improving ties between India and Pakistan," Navtej Sarna, spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry, told reporters here when referred to the Bush administration's approval of sale of 18 new F-16, fighter jets with an option of offering 18 more to Islamabad as part of a five-billion-dollar weapons deal.
This issue had been a subject of discussions between India and the US and New Delhi was reiterating its position on the matter, said Sarna.
The Bush administration has notified about the proposed sale to the Congress which has 30 days to review the offer. Unless Congress passes a legislation to block the deal, it will go ahead.
The package sent to the Congress include the approval of sale of 18 new fighter jets with an option for Pakistan to buy another 18.
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