F-16s to Pakistan—Why Now?

Re: #48,

Romair, my man!

I`ve heard so much about you... you`re definitely worth all the praises coming your way!

M`as-salaam

Re: #49

Well put, sajal!

Peace

Re: # 54

Asfand...baby... my MAN... CHILL dude!

You`re gonna chase `em away with your blistering insights.

Let them play with fire if they don`t believe it can hurt them... they`ll know soon.

M`as-salaam!

yaar, the idea behind the Pakistani Jf-17 is to provide us with a jet to replace the ageing jets in our fleet. The current f-16 batch and the new one will be the sophisticated core of the air force and the JF-17 will be the `unsophisticated` core of the air force. It will replacce our aging migs, f-7`s, etc.

Re: Romair & bbabu variour
Gentelmen!
Please don’t quarrel about the insignificant. We have to work hard to enrich the white man :)

Regards,

Faruk

The basic premise of this article is non-sensical although Mr. Ghauri has always been a no-non-sense guy.

The basic premise that America is propping up India as a superpower to counter China is non-Sense. China CANNOT be countered through a military threat of any size; because the nature of threat is not militaristic in nature but it is economic. Why would America help create a competitor that shows no inhibitions about becoming great. But the times have changed. The colonial era, when economics were controlled through military power has passed a century ago. Americans are learning this lesson the hard way in Afghnistan and Iraq.

The issue of supplying weapons to India is not as big as you have made it out to be. In my opinion there are two reasons for that:

1. Europeans have started re-selling weapons to China despite a US imposed sanction. They have told Americans to shove their sanctions where sun doesn`t rise. That leaves no option for Americans to sell its weapons elsewhere like India and Pakistan (potentially hot markets) or risk its manufacturers going out of business.

2. I think the Americans are trying their best from keeping India from buying oil from Iran (thru pipeline or even thru the sea), where Iran has promised to supply oil to only those who would buy it with Euros instead of US dollars. Iranians would supply oil cheaper than market rate and along with Iran, Russia and South America, especially Venzuella are opting for this option. That would sink the American economy to the abyss with in 5 years. The common sense, however, tells hindu baniya that even if he is given American technology and manufacturing liscences he would still need oil to support its economy. Irony of this whole situation is that, the Hindu baniya has become the Shylock who wants his pound of flesh too.


Trust me, I am no fan of India and I don`t see any potential of India becoming any kind of power in next 50 years at least. The most they will do will be to start manufacturing toys and dollar-store stuff while chinese will move into more sophisticated manufacturing arena.

drlokraj #64,
The USA is concerned about its place in the world just like any other country should. The status of other countries does not worry the USA unless it affects the USA`s position in the world. That`s how diplomacy of every country should be. India`s diplomacy is thankfully now moving in that direction. Only our development and our place in the world should matter to the Indian govt. Diplomacy is not about charity to other countries but about progress of only your own country.

One need not be particularly bright to see what is going on: China has an economic shadow that that firmly encompasses the far east and australia and is also becomng significant as far away as latin america. It seeks to extend its military presence pari passu by building up a navy to challenge the US in the pacific.

India seeks something similar, although at a smaller scale, in the Indian Ocean. Pakistan seeks to counter this by building up its own naval strength.

Seen in this light, the recent Sino-Pak agreements (reported in yesterday`s and today`s Dawn) fit into this like a piece of jigsaw: China has helped build the new port at Gwadar, and just signed the agreement to further enhance it, and also to strengthen pakistan`s navy by providing four new frigates among other things - and in return (as the US suspects, per some reports) will probably get rights for chinese subs. Pakistan is happy because it has (once again) countered Indian attempts at extending its military reach. China is happy because it has both a potential commercial outlet for its goods as well as military presence at the world`s oil lifeline. Pakistan is also happy because it can play off China with the US (which gives it F-16s and naval planes). Pakistan is even more happy because India does not like all this at all.

Meanwhile, poor abdul and his wife worry about the next meal and medicine for their sick kid. While the Big Boys play their Big Games of Statecraft. And with all due respect they are clueless where all this is leading to - since the day of the Nation-States is over anyway, as the planet shrinks to a global village.

(OK, thru ranting).

The timing of F-16 sale has more to do with Bush`s resounding win in 2004 elections, than anything else. The Democrats, who are more pro-India than Republicans, are too demoralised now to effectively challenge Bush`s decision in Congress and Senate.

According to some of my friends in the PAL-C (a Pakistani lobby in Washington D.C.), President Bush had already agreed to the F-16s sale during the last Musharraf visit to Camp David. If Bush had announced that decision back then, he would have faced tremendous flak from the vociferous Democrats. The Democrats were already accusing Bush of supporting dictatorships in middle East, Pakistan and Egypt.

The F-16 is primarily a political stunt aimed at convincing the Pakistani public that America is a sincere friend of Pakistan. In the short run, it will bolster the PAF considerably but in the longer run, PAF is going to benefit most from the JF-17.

It is time for India and Pakistan to look beyond CBMs and even beyond Kashmir. They should think strategically of a future in which the hostility between the two is not exploited by others. That the US move to sell F-16s to Pakistan and much more to India is designed to help its ailing aircraft manufacturers is a no-brainer. Why these two countries would so eagerly fall into this trap, where an outsider is taking advantage of their mutual hostility to line its own pockets is the real question? And it`s not just the US, China too is a willing player to exploit the hostility between the two. At least India has been smart vis-a-vis China and is not letting the Americans dictate its relationship with that country. Even Iran at times is able to exploit the differences between the two estranged siblings whenever it suits its purpose. Its time for Indian and Pakistani strategic thinkgers to devise a strategic alliance of its own, so that they can become players rather than mere mohras in the international game of chess.

Urstruly#70:
``The most they will do will be to start manufacturing toys and dollar-store stuff while chinese will move into more sophisticated manufacturing arena.``

Your contempt for the hindu is making you overlook some obvious facts. The reality is quite the opposite. India has been much more able to develop a niche in the knowledge-based industries than China.

Re: # 66

thankyou

Re: # 48

well put Romair

#74 by dost-mittar on April 6, 2005 11:21am PT

What you`re saying will never happen...The Pakis want Indian Kashmir...The Indians aren`t going to give it up..The pakis want Kashmir...rinse repeat...you can see where this gets into an infinite loop...

The stability of pakistan is essential to the development of south asia in general.We indians can trust that the US, out of its` own self interest will always have a hand in the affairs of pakistan.Things will never get out of hand.What india should do in my opinion, humble as it is, is just mind its` own business and concentrate on putting its` own house in order.We indians need to believe in ourselves, our future and our destiny.The rest as they say, will then , be history.

Re: # 74 DM
//....Its time for Indian and Pakistani strategic thinkgers to devise a strategic alliance of its own, so that they can become players ...//

Indian and Pakistani strategic thinkers ??? There are no such beasts called ``strategic thinkers`` anywhere in india or pakiland.

What you find in India are intellectually-challenged dimwits who cannot break-out of a paper-bag even if their lives depend upon it..... And you expect them to become ``Players``?? All they know is how to whine.

And if anybody could be worse than them - then you would be looking at paki ``strategic thinkers``. Pakis would actually willingly walk into the paper-bag from which they can`t walk out of. For them ``strategic thinking`` means brown-nosing to some big-daddy in order to be able to needle the hinuds.

But then nothing better is expected from pakis. But one really wonders why the indians are the way they are. Stupid morons - it`s unbelievable they way the Indians have been doing their ``strategic thinking``.

re: cayenne # 1

There is nothing we Indians want more than to see our abilities reach a global status. :)

(I share all those vanities. It`s just fun to look at them and be able to poke fun at them once in a while)