WASHINGTON: US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca has said that her country wants to give F16s and its more advanced versions to India. The US also wants to enter into a co-production agreement for the warplanes, she said.
"We are accelerating the transformation of our relationship with India, with a number of new initiatives. We are engaging in a new strategic dialogue on global issues, and on defence and expanded advanced technology cooperation," Rocca said at a Congressional hearing of the International Relations Committee.
Regarding Pakistan, she said, "The US was working to make Pakistan feel more stable. Pakistan has defence needs. We want to help Pakistan feel more stable... because stability in the country is better for overall stability in the region."
She further said that Pakistan would decide itself how many F-16s it wanted.
"We’re still in negotiations as to how many they want and what the cost will be. And I think that depends on the numbers. It’s my understanding it depends on the numbers that they order," Rocca said.
Regarding military balance in South Asia, Rocca said, "Whenever we sell weapons, I think, in almost any part of the world, we look at the regional dynamic and whether it will affect negatively the regional dynamic and the tensions in the region. And, our analysis is that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan will not do so."
The US official further said, "Let me also say that we also want to move forward in terms of signaling that this is a long-term commitment to Pakistan. This is a part of the world where you will see ever increasing US focus and interest."
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