March 30, 2005 (GG2.NET)

THE US, on Tuesday, sought to allay Indian apprehensions that sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan would have an adverse impact on the Indo-Pak peace process, saying that the fighter planes offered to India would be at competitive prices and have a superior technology.

“India already has a defence relationship. This (F-16s) will be a transparent process. We are for maintaining standards. We will find out what kind of plane India wants and how we do technology transfer and also be reliable," US Ambassador to India David C Mulford told journalists.

The US manufacturers would put before the Indian defence establishment competitive prices and super technology.

On Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee`s statement that the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan would have an adverse impact on the composite dialogue process between the two countries, Mulford said "I don`t see why it should. The balance of power is not disturbed (by the US proposal). India is having fighter aeroplanes in quite a number." He also sought to underplay the timing of the decision, saying it was linked to a complex legislative process in the US Congress.

"I don`t think anybody had any illusions about it. For quite a long time, F-16s for Pakistan is something that was going to happen. It was known and I don`t think it should come as a surprise." The ambassador said the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, a crucial ally in the fight against terrorism, was part of Washington`s commitment to advancing Pakistan`s stability and democratisation process, which was an interest common to both US and India. "It was an important symbolic gesture," he added.