DAILY PAKISTAN
Can Pakistan Use F16s Aginst India? The Deal.
Ever since Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft in a dog fight last week, concerns have been raised whether Pakistan can use F-16s against India or not, however, the answer is in the affirmative with a multi-billion dollars deal behind the outrage stirred by India and the US.
The aerial combat between Pakistan and India after latter’s repeated violation of the Line of Control brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-blown war with Pakistan scrambling its aircraft to foil India’s nefarious plans.
However, the question of whether Pakistan is permitted to use F-16 against India has been addressed by a social media user who goes by the name Xulfi Moon on Twitter.
Moon, while detailing the subsequent deals made between Pakistan and US over the use of F-16 confirmed that the armed forces of the country are fully authorized to use the aircraft against India.
“Pakistan Air Force has F-16s in service since 1983. Its conditions of end user agreement as for many other buyers include non-use against US and NATO members and non-supply/sharing technology with US/NATO adversaries. Pakistan can use them against anyone if needed to defend,” Moon said.
Pakistan signed deals for procurement of F-16 before and after the 9/11 tragedy, however, there are no strings attached to the deal.
Pakistan signed an agreement with the US for F-16 with no condition, however, the following deal bound Pakistan to take action against terrorists – without any mention of restriction to use against India.
The ‘take action against terrorists’ did not compel Pakistan to use the aircraft against terrorists only, contrary to the reports that emerged after the mid-air clash between Pakistan and India last week.
What’s the Deal Prompting Outrage?
Having explained the zero conditions about the use of F-16 against India bothers one to think as to why India and the US are concerned about the use of aircraft?
Solving the puzzle is a bit complicated, however, an upcoming potential deal serves as an answer.
Lockheed Martin, the makers of F-16, is pitching India F-16 Block 70s and New Delhi would acquire 110 if it gets selected with a deal worth approx 15 billion US Dollars.
The public outcry is all about appeasing India as the US is desperate to get this deal done, be it F-18 or F-16 who are competing for it among other competitors.
If Washington successfully appeases India, there would be more dollars rolling for the US weapons complex and that’s the reason as to why US embassy official said the government was looking into the matter and takes violations seriously.
In fact, Pakistan had used F-16 against India in the Kargil conflict, however, as per the spokesperson of the armed forces, F-16 was not used to shoot down Indian aircraft, stated Moon.
What confirms the approval of usage of F-16 against India is that Pakistan received air to air missiles along with the procurement of F-16 in the latest shipment and such missiles can be used against Pakistan’s eastern nighbour instead of terrorists.
In case, US tries to get closer to India for the above-mentioned deal, it can simply stop the sale of spare parts and further munitions-related to F-16s of Pakistan.
EXPRESS TRIBUNE
PAKISTAN TAKES ANOTHER STEP TO REDUCE TENSION WITH INDIA
In a first sign of de-escalation in tensions, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood, who was recalled after the Pulwama attack, is returning to New Delhi while the talks on Kartarpur Corridor would also go ahead as planned.
The announcement was made by the Foreign Office in a statement issued here on Tuesday after the acting High Commissioner was invited to the ministry. The word ‘invitation’ itself reflected a sign of thaw. In recent weeks, the two countries mostly summoned each other’s diplomats because of the ongoing tensions.
The statement said the acting Indian envoy was conveyed that the Pakistani High Commissioner was returning to New Delhi after completion of consultations in Islamabad.
Also, the envoy was told that Pakistani delegation would visit New Delhi on March 14 as planned for talks to finalise the modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor. Indian team would then pay a return visit to Islamabad on March 28.
Another significant move taken by Pakistan was to inform the Indian side of its commitment of “continued weekly contact at the military operations directorates level.”
The Pakistan and Indian militaries have a hotline through which the military operations directorates of the two neighbours interact with each other on a weekly basis.
It was, however, not clear if the two sides were in contact during last two weeks especially after tit for tat cross border attacks by the two sides in the wake of Pulwama attack.
These measures appear to suggest that the situation may be heading towards de-escalation. The development, according to some sources, was possible after lot of ‘backchannel talks’ through influential players.
Many countries namely the US, UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia and UAE were involved in both covert and overt diplomacy to ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The Foreign Office statement came within hours of the government’s announcement of widespread crackdown against banned militant organisations.
Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi told reporters that 44 suspects were taken into custody. Among those who were detained include Hammad Azhar, the son of Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdur Rauf, the brother of head of banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).
These two individuals were also named in the dossier India had recently shared with Pakistan regarding the Pulwama attack.
Although, the minister insisted that arrests were not linked to the current tensions with India, it is evident that the government is sending a clear message to the outside world that it is serious to tackle all militant groups.
THE NEWS
INDIA FACES INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION
In a bid to isolate Pakistan in international community, India is now finding itself isolated as the US has removed it from the preferential trade list and the United World Wrestling (UWW) has also suspended its membership besides a warning by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on hosting rights of the Cricket World Cup and World T20 events.
The US President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to end India's preferential trade treatment that allows duty-free entry for billions of dollars worth of Delhi exports to enter the country.
In a letter written to the leaders of the Senate and House, the president said that he intends to terminate India's designation as a beneficiary developing country."I am taking this step because, after intensive engagement between the United States and the government of India, I have determined that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets of India as set forth," the letter stated.
He has taken the decision under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme. The GSP programme provides duty-free treatment to goods of designated beneficiary countries.
The programme was authorised by the Trade Act of 1974 to promote economic growth in the developing countries and was implemented on January 1, 1976. India has been the world's largest beneficiary of the GSP programme. Under the rules, certain products can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress.
The president apprised the Congress of the plan explaining that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets of India as set forth in the programme rules and regulations. "I will continue to assess whether the government of India is providing equitable and reasonable access to its markets, in accordance with the GSP eligibility criteria," the president said in the letter.
The US trade representative's office told media outlets that removing India from the GSP programme would not take effect for at least 60 days after notifications to Congress and the Indian government, and it would be enacted by a presidential proclamation.
Meanwhile, the United World Wrestling (UWW) directed all the members to suspend their relations with the Indian Wrestling Federation (IWF) till the time it guarantees (in writing) in-time visa facility to all athletes willing or drawn to compete in any international event the country hosts.
The international wresting body called Indian government’s failure to mix sports with politics as an act against the Olympic Charter. "Indians involve politics in sports and deny players and officials visa to compete in international events. All member countries are advised to suspend relations with Indian Wrestling Federation," the world body said in a letter to all member countries.
Pakistan has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to strip India of their hosting rights for the T20 and 50-over World Cup if India does not assure the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of issuing visas to its players.
According to sources, the PCB has told the cricket’s governing body that until and unless India assures them in writing that they will issue visas to their players and officials, their hosting rights should be taken back from them.
India is scheduled to host the T20 World Cup in 2021 and the 50-over World Cup in 2023. The ICC has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they need to assure that they will issue visas to Pakistan players for the mega tournaments, the sources added.
Moreover, the ICC has ordered the BCCI to take written guarantee from their government, a year in advance before the tournaments kick-off in the country or they will look to another country to host the events.
The issue was raised by the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani at a recent ICC meeting in Dubai, where he pointed out that India recently denied visas to Pakistani athletes to participate in events held in the country. On this, the ICC chief Shashank Manohar ruled that the Indian board has to obtain a written guarantee from their government about the issuance of visas
Image credit - Daily Times / Business Today / Dawn
(Compiled by Mr VK Gaur, former IG, BSF, who has written more than 50 Books on the issues related to Defence, Strategy and Internal security.)