The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : F-16 sale

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 29, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

F-16 sale

Sir, — This refers to the sale of F-16s to Pakistan by the U.S. The warming of relations between India and Pakistan, and the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project are not conducive to the strategic interests of the U.S. in the region. India and Pakistan should not succumb to the paranoia triggered by the induced military imbalance. The effusive reaction of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to the offer of F-16s and F-18s suggests that New Delhi may indeed get hooked to the `supply, divide and rule' designs of the U.S.

P. Vijayaraghavan,
Chennai

Sir, — The CPI has rightly cautioned New Delhi against falling into the trap of Washington, which is only encouraging an arms race in the region to boost its own arms industry. By ostensibly playing the balancing game, the U.S. is only trying to make money.

V.S. Venkatavaradan,
Salem, T.N.

Sir, — The U.S. offer of sharing sophisticated technology with India and the offer to sell F-18s are in themselves an invitation to an arms race. Its policy of trying to arm the two rival nations is beyond comprehension. In the Bush administration's perception, it may be a balancing act but it is potentially a dangerous move.

Ashok Malhotra,
Saline, Michigan

Sir, — The U.S. first sold F-16s to Pakistan. When India expressed concern, it offered India an advanced version of F-16s and F-18s. It is inducing two neighbours to fight, and trying to mint dollars in the bargain.

Shail S. Vora,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Sir, — If India and Pakistan were to fight each other with the planes offered to them, both the countries would incur heavy losses. If they do not fight, they would still be spending crores on buying the aircraft.

In both the instances, India and Pakistan would be the losers and the U.S. the winner.

Mathew Varghese,
Geneva

Sir, — Under the pretext of restoring democracy, the U.S. devastated Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it is offering F-16s to a country under a military regime.

The motive is to find a market for American weapons and to keep India and Pakistan at war with each other.

Archana Gopinath,
Ernakulam, Kerala

Sir, — The U.S. State Department has issued a fresh travel advisory to its citizens on Pakistan, saying the country is not safe in view of the presence of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and other militant groups. Is not the supply of F-16s ill timed and ill advised? Also, if the U.S. is serious about restoration of democracy in Pakistan, how will the move help? How can an armed military Government be expected to tread the path of democracy?

K.M.G. Vivekanandam,
Madurai, T.N.

Sir, — The latest American moves are both a matter of concern and disappointment. The situation between 1990 (when the U.S. did not allow Pakistan to take delivery of the aircraft) and now has not changed much.

T.S. Nagarajan,
Chennai

Sir, — How the proposed sale of F-16s to Islamabad will further India-Pakistan détente is difficult to understand. On the contrary, it will only fuel an arms race in South Asia.

T. Srinivasulu,
Hyderabad

Sir, — The U.S. is telling India: "my intention is not to harm you." What it is not saying is "it is not to harm you but to make your neighbour more harmful."

Pandithar Sivakumar Perumal,
Pune

Sir, — The thaw in the bilateral ties once again faces the risk of deterioration.

P. Jyothiradityan,
Palakkad, Kerala

Sir, — Time and again, arms acquired from the U.S. have emboldened Pakistan to carry out misadventures against India. However, the Indian military planners have, of late, been engaged in a process of building our armed forces independent of the Pakistani threat perception. This should blunt the effect of the F-16 sale to Pakistan.

Subramanyam Sridharan,
Chennai

Sir, — While the F-16 sale to Pakistan has been cleared, India has been offered the more advanced and sophisticated F-18s. Also, the U.S. President called up the Indian Prime Minister before the formal announcement on the transfer of F-16s to Pakistan.

It is clear that India is above Pakistan in terms of the U.S.' recognition. It should utilise Washington's latest offer to strengthen its Air Force.

Kaushik Balakrishnan,
Atlanta, Georgia

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

THE DOLLAR AND ITS SHAKY PEDESTAL

ARABS AND DEMOCRACY

Anatomy of a revolution

The rise of religion in Africa