Two prominent Congressional leaders have warned Bush against selling F-16s to Pakistan saying it can seriously undermine US-India relations 



The newly elected Democratic co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Rep Gary Ackerman, and the Republican member who is likely to be elected to the other co-Chair, Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, have jointly issued a 'Dear Colleague'
letter to the members of the US House of Representatives opposing the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. They have requested their colleagues to sign a letter addressed to President Bush in which they say:

"We firmly believe that such a sale would undermine our long-term strategic interests in South Asia and urge you not to grant a license for such a sale".

Both the 'Dear Colleague' letter and the letter to President Bush are reproduced below.

Members of the House of Representatives should have received the letters.

"If you agree with the contention of Rep Gary Ackerman and Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, please contact your House Representative IMMEDIATELY and urge him/her to sign the letter addressed to President Bush," Mr Ram Narayanan of US-India Friendship has urged.

Click here to locate the coordinates of your House Representative. 

You can get details of the members of the India Caucus by logging on to this Indian US Friendship page, scrolling down and clicking: 'Members of Congressional Caucus'.


__________________________________________________________
December 10, 2004

PROTECT OUR STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN SOUTH ASIA

OPPOSE F-16s FOR PAKISTAN

Dear Colleague:

There continue to be media reports that the Administration is considering the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. We oppose such a sale and ask that you join with us in sending the attached letter to President Bush.

For the last several years, both Congress and the Administration have worked to forge a new and different relationship with India. The President recognized the importance of changing the dynamic between the United States and India in his National Security Strategy released in 2002. In it, he argued that his Administration started "with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common strategic interests." We agree.

However, if the United States provides F-16s to Pakistan, planes inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons, the message will be that our
true strategic partner in South Asia is Pakistan. We believe that such a message will squander an opportunity to
continue building the strong relationship that the United States needs
with India.

If you have any questions, or would like to sign the letter to the President please contact Yleem Poblette with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen at 63305 or David
Adams with Rep Ackerman at 67813.

Sincerely,

Click here to locate the coordinates of your House Representative.  You can get details of the members of the India Caucus by logging on to this Indian US Friendship page, scrolling down and clicking: 'Members of Congressional Caucus'. __________________________________________________________ December 10, 2004 PROTECT OUR STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN SOUTH ASIA OPPOSE F-16s FOR PAKISTAN Dear Colleague: There continue to be media reports that the Administration is considering the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. We oppose such a sale and ask that you join with us in sending the attached letter to President Bush. For the last several years, both Congress and the Administration have worked to forge a new and different relationship with India. The President recognized the importance of changing the dynamic between the United States and India in his National Security Strategy released in 2002. In it, he argued that his Administration started "with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common strategic interests." We agree. However, if the United States provides F-16s to Pakistan, planes inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons, the message will be that our true strategic partner in South Asia is Pakistan. We believe that such a message will squander an opportunity to continue building the strong relationship that the United States needs with India. If you have any questions, or would like to sign the letter to the President please contact Yleem Poblette with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen at 63305 or David Adams with Rep. Ackerman at 67813. Sincerely, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Gary L. Ackerman Member  Co-Chair Congressional Caucus on India Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans India and Indian-Americans _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ December --, 2004 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write concerning persistent media reports that your Administration is considering the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to the government of Pakistan. We firmly believe that such a sale would undermine our long-term strategic interests in South Asia and urge you not to grant a license for such a sale. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States has lifted sanctions against Pakistan and has provided generous economic and military assistance to that nation in return for Pakistan's support in fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban. Indeed, the Fiscal Year 2005 Foreign Operations bill contains the first $600 million tranche of a five year, $3 billion assistance package for Pakistan. We view economic assistance as necessary to reform Pakistan's schools, provide maternal and child health care programs, support economic restructuring, and otherwise engage in the types of programs that will stop Pakistan from being a breeding ground for terrorists. Military assistance, however, is another matter. While early military assistance packages for Pakistan were justified as being in support of Pakistan's fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban, more recent arms sales have moved further and further from the requirements of the war on terror. The recent sale of PC-3 "Orion" surveillance aircraft, TOW anti-tank missiles and Phalanx anti-aircraft guns is a case in point. Since neither al Qaeda nor the remnants of the Taliban have submarines, armored fighting vehicles or airplanes, we are gravely concerned that the systems being provided to Pakistan are intended to be used against Indian capabilities. The sale of F-16s, a platform with an inherent capability to deliver nuclear weapons, would send a similar message in even stronger and more ominous terms. For the last several years, and with strong Congressional support, your Administration has worked extraordinarily hard to forge a new and different relationship with the Government of India. The National Security Strategy of the United States that you produced in 2002 recognizes that shift in policy by stating that "U.S. interests require a strong relationship with India." It further states that "we start with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common strategic interests." Indeed, the many steps that you have taken in recent years to give substance to the U.S.-India relationship, from cooperation on counter-terrorism and counter narcotics to joint military exercises have all been aimed at creating the trust and closeness that the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies should have. We believe that those interests, and the broader U.S. national security strategy in South Asia, would be undermined if the United States sells F-16s to Pakistan. Such a sale will send a clear message to the Government of India that we have made our strategic choice in South Asia, and that choice is Pakistan. Although the common strategic interests between India and the United States are apparent, and Indian public opinion regarding the United States is positive, bilateral cooperation and joint efforts to address the strategic issues that face both nations is not automatic. The sale of advanced fighter aircraft to Pakistan will squander an opportunity to continue building the "strong relationship" the United States needs with India. We strongly urge you not to authorize such a sale and thereby prevent the disruption in our relations with India that would surely accompany it. We thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Write to the editor Home Page Subscribe to receive this page daily by email Unsubscribe from the mailing list

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