ISLAMABAD – A two-member staff delegation of the United States (US) House Foreign Affairs Committee assured Pakistani authorities of the US continued provision of military equipment and assistance with approval of the US Congress on Monday.
In a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, delegation members Kristen Marquardt and Sajit Gandhi reiterated US efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s counter-terrorism capacity and said the continued cooperation was a testimony to the strength of Pak-US bilateral relations.
Fatemi said there was lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan’s wholehearted efforts, which it was undertaking jointly with the US administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism.
During the meeting, a range of important issues were discussed concerning reduction in US defence and civilian assistance to Pakistan and Congressional hold on some already approved funds were also deliberated upon, said a press release issued here.
The adviser said the government and people of Pakistan also desired that their sincere efforts and sacrifices in confronting the serious security threats, in an increasingly complex regional situation, should be appreciated, at all levels.
The US assurance comes just days after a BBC Urdu report, citing an unnamed senior US State Department official, said the US administration is withholding subsidy which was earmarked for Pakistan’s purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets.
The State Department official told BBC Urdu on condition of anonymity that the Obama administration is still willing to sell the fighter jets to Pakistan, but will not contribute US funds towards the deal.
The US administration took this step with directions from US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker because only Congress has the authority to dispense or withhold the funds, the official said.
As a result, Pakistan would have to foot the complete bill of $700 million for the eight fighter jets as opposed to just $270m as per the earlier arrangement, while the US would grant the remaining $430m.
Fatemi said the delegation’s visit to Pakistan was timely and important as it provided the opportunity to the Congressional Staff Members to exchange views with the concerned authorities in Pakistan on all areas of mutual interest, and assessed the situation on ground concerning Pakistan’s committed efforts on various fronts.
This expectation was more from our friends in the US, who had been our close aides and partners all along on these issues and better understood the nature and complexity of the challenges faced by Pakistan, he added.
Reiterating the spirit of long standing friendly relations and cooperation that the two countries had enjoyed for many decades, Fatemi noted that frequent and candid exchange of views between Pakistan and US on all issues of mutual interest and concern, was most valuable.
He also briefed the delegation in detail about Pakistan’s continued and sincere efforts together with the US, China and Afghanistan to promote peace in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.
Pakistan had shown utmost sincerity in taking action against all terror outfits in the country, including the Haqqani network, in order to improve its relationship with India and contribute to the Afghan peace process, he said.
Fatemi highlighted that Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif had taken a clear lead in strengthening its relations with the neighbouring countries, with the ultimate objective to achieve regional stability, peace, harmony and prosperity through enhanced economic linkages, connectivity and cooperation.
In their remarks, the delegation members said that US fully recognised that Pakistan had done a great deal in addressing various security challenges, primarily in its own interest.
They reiterated that the efforts by the US to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity in its counterterrorism efforts, through continued provision of military equipment and assistance with approval of the US Congress, was a testimony to strength Pak-US bilateral relations.
They said that the rapidly expanding cooperation in a number of other sectors, including energy, economy, education science and technology, law enforcement and strategic stability, under the Pak-US Strategic Dialogue had put the bilateral relations on a sound footing.http://nation.com.pk/national/03-May-2016/pakistan-gets-us-assurance-over-military-equipment-assistance
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