India's friends on Capitol Hill have initiated a concerted campaign to prevent the Bush administration from selling F-16s to Pakistan.
New York Democratic Congressman Gary L. Ackerman on Monday said he would introduce legislation this week that would make the sale of the fighter jets conditional on Pakistan providing the US access to nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. Mr Ackerman co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
"It is incomprehensible that we will provide sophisticated military equipment to Pakistan when its President, Gen Pervez Musharraf refuses to let us interview A.Q. Khan," Mr Ackerman said. "After all, Khan is the world's biggest individual proliferator of nuclear technology to two countries of President Bush's evil axis and he tried to sell to the third."
On March 23, Mr Ackerman and his colleagues in the India Caucus, including Republican counterpart Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida urged President George W. Bush not to go ahead with the sale of the F-16s. The Bush administration did not heed the concerns raised by the representatives.
Dr Khan's covert nuclear network was uncovered in 2003. While the full extent of the proliferation is yet to be ascertained, investigators believe the scientist sold nuclear weapons technology to several nations, including Iran, North Korea and Libya.
American intelligence agencies have attempted to interview Dr Khan about his activities but General Musharraf has refused to allow the US access to him.
"If they couldn't control their own nuke programme, how would you expect them to safeguard our 'stuff'?" asked Mr Ackerman.
The Bush administration has publicly been less critical of Pakistan's cooperation in the Khan investigation. "We're continuing to work closely with Pakistan and learn more information about that network," Scott McClellan, White House spokesman told reporters last week.
Ms Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the House International
East and Central Asia, described India as a “dependable ally” in the war against terrorism.
“A secure and stable South Asia is a priority for the US Congress,” the Congresswoman noted, adding, “Concerning the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, the Congress must sign off on the sale of technology export, as in this case. During this familiar process, members will carefully scrutinise this proposed sale and consider additional measures to strike a delicate balance, prevent providing an advantage to the Pakistani military and ensure India’s security.”
Like some of his colleagues, New Jersey Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, a founder and former co-chair of the India Caucus, also had stern words for the Bush administration.
“This decision by the Bush administration, coupled with their continued policy of increased military assistance for Pakistan, has contributed to grave security concerns throughout South Asia,” he said. Mr Pallone wrote to Mr Bush in November to oppose the sale of the F-16s.
The Ackerman Bill does allow for assistance to Pakistan to encourage continued cooperation on counter-narcotics, anti-terrorism as well as peacekeeping. In addition, the measure allows military to military contact programs. Mr Ackerman expects to introduce the legislation this week when Congress reconvenes from its Easter recess.
