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U.S. Lawmakers Try to Block F-16 Sales to Pakistan
U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) yesterday introduced legislation that would block the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan unless President George W. Bush certifies that Islamabad has halted construction on a new heavy-water reactor, Reuters reported (see GSN, July 21). “If this arms sale goes through, we will only be putting additional fuel on the fire of an Indian-Pakistan nuclear arms race,” Markey said. If Congress does not pass a resolution of disapproval by this weekend, Bush would be authorized to deliver up to 36 F-16 C/D models and related gear to Pakistan. However, Congress would still be able to block the sale “up to the point of delivery,” which could take a period of years, said Richard Grimmett, an arms expert at the Congressional Research Service. Representative Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) has also introduced legislation to stop the deal. He cited fears of technology leaks to China (Jim Wolf, Reuters, July 27). China said yesterday that its nuclear cooperation did not involve support for Islamabad’s weapons program, the Press Trust of India reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Beijing was “aware of the report” documenting the reactor project, which reportedly could produce 200 kilograms or more of weapon-grade plutonium annually when finished (see GSN, July 25). Asked whether China had assisted the work, Liu reiterated that Beijing’s nuclear cooperation with Islamabad involved exclusively civilian projects conducted under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards (Press Trust of India/onlinenews.com.pak, July 28).
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