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Obama Scraps Subsidy in $700Mln F-16 Sale to Pakistan

© AP Photo / Burhan Ozbilici, File

Military & Intelligence

16:53 29.04.2016Get short URL

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US President Barack Obama’s administration plans to abandon the plan to subsidize the $700 million deal to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a senior US State Department official said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the BBC broadcaster’s Hindi desk that the Obama administration "is still very much in favor" of selling the F-16s to Pakistan. Islamabad would however have to bear the full cost of the eight fighter jets, the State Department official added.

The original arrangement required Pakistan to pay $270 million for the aircraft, with the remaining $430 million paid by the US taxpayer.

F-16

© Sputnik / Alexander Kovalev

Islamabad Surprised With Indian Stance on US Decision to Sell F-16 to Pakistan

The decision to scrap the subsidy comes as the US Congress blocked the funding for the deal after Pakistan’s regional rival India expressed dissatisfaction with the deal. A factor for some of the US lawmakers’ opposition was the 2011 arrest and the 33-year sentence on charges of treason of a doctor who exposed Osama bin Laden’s location through a fake CIA vaccine program in Pakistan.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that the State Department had approved the sale of eight F-16 combat aircraft and other equipment to Pakistan on February 12.

Related:: India Considers US Lockheed Martin Offer to Manufacture F-16 Fighter Jets

: India Disagrees US F-16 Sales to Pakistan to Help 'Combat Terrorism'

: US Confirmed to Sell F-16 to Pakistan Despite Condemnation - US State Dept

Tags:

U.S. Department of State, fighter jet, F-16, Barack Obama, Pakistan, United States

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