Appeared in the beginning of February the information on the consent of the US state Department to satisfy the request of Pakistan for the purchase of 8 American F-16 fighters with associated equipment totaling approximately $ 700 million. had the expected negative reaction in neighbouring India and has provoked a debate in the U.S. Senate, where this deal is subject to approval.
Oil poured into the fire followed a month later, the message of Pakistan plans to increase to 18 the number of purchased F-16 fighters under the program to replace the old ones to the development of online Chinese as well as French fighters belonging to Pakistan air force 70-80-ies of the last century.
You must first turn briefly to the question of what the military machine in question, denoted by the trademark F-16. This fighter belongs to the class “lungs” and is designed to attack ground and air targets. Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) it was also developed for a long time (at the turn of 60-70-ies). However, since F-16 has passed through the deep modernization and today is produced in several modifications, confirming the view that this fighter was one of the most successful projects of the leading us defense company. Total produced more than 4500 units of this machine (by today’s standards the giant series) that are in the air force in several dozen countries. F-16 recent modifications and still meets the requirements of modern, especially given the parameter “cost/effectiveness”. The fighter had a good performance in actual combat conditions, in which I was air force, not only the US but other countries, including Pakistan.
Considerations about the need to maintain production lines Lockheed Martin, the continued production of the F-16, became one of the most powerful arguments in favor of the request of Pakistan. The continuing high potential of F-16 actualizes the political aspects of the Washington deliveries of these aircraft in the regions, the situation which has high tension. In the journal of the IEE previously discussed the issue of aggravation of the situation in the Taiwan Strait after the U.S. decision to sell Taipei new batch of us arms, the main component of which will be the F-16 fighter jets.
The message about the plans for the sale of these fighter jets of the Pakistan air force produced the same effect in Indian-Pakistani relations. Hardly in India will be satisfied with the explanations of both sides of this transaction on the need to increase the capacity of the Pakistani army, which is fighting with so-called “Haqqani network”, one of the most radical Islamist movements. For the possession of a squadron of F-16 recent modifications will undoubtedly increase the potential of the Pakistani air force in a military confrontation with India.
Why did the United States successfully tested the progressive process of establishing close relations with one of the two Asian giants (India), which more or less explicitly positioned as a strategic opponent to the other giant China?
At first glance this question seems quite natural, since China is already turning into a major source of challenges to American positions not only in East Asia but also in Africa, Latin America and even in Europe.
But actually in this case does not make sense to ask “why?”. For the inevitable dissatisfaction of India specified step Washington (apparently subjected to a preliminary evaluation on the degree of seriousness) was only a side effect of us attempts to solve the accumulated problems in relations with Pakistan.
Playing a critical role in the Afghan conflict and efforts for its more or less acceptable for the US resolution, Islamabad increasingly is in a “gravitational field” of China.
The latest evidence of this is unfavorable for Washington’s trends was a huge project (worth more than $ 40 billion.) the construction of a transport corridor that will link the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region of China and the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabian sea. The agreement was signed during the visit of President XI Jinping to Pakistan, held in April 2015.
Mainly for the project indicated in the Senate opponents of the sale to Pakistan of F-16 fighter jets. But not only that. During the discussion, reference was made to the ambiguous behaviour of Pakistan against the Afghan Taliban. So, replying to the supporters of development cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” Senator Rand Paul (who claimed previously to participate in the presidential race for the Republicans) said: “They take our money, weapons and laugh in our face. Pakistan is an exemplary example of an evil friend (frenemy)”.
And yet the proponents meet the Pakistani request was stronger, winning the vote with a score of 71:24. On the eve of the vote and after he had taken measures “charmed toothache” (Indian). This kind of therapy was carried out during the visits to Delhi of the head of the us Pacific command Admiral Harry Harris (in early March) and Minister of defense Ashton Carter (11-13 April). Both distinguished guests did not stint on the compliments to India and painted before the hosts vivid picture of the further development of U.S.-Indian cooperation in the defense sphere.
In reply to the bewilderment of the Indian interlocutors on the supply to Pakistan of F-16 E. Carter laid out a few arguments. First, once again has been said about the need to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to “fight terrorism”. Second, was followed by assurances about the future will not be directed against India, the Pakistani squadron. But the most important thing was to sentiments along the lines of: “We do not korima, when you purchase weapons from the Russians.”
In connection with the sale of Islamabad F-16 fighters in Delhi almost definitely will demonstrate “understanding” of its key ally de facto as in its relations with Pakistan, and internal plan. Simply no other way.
