WASHINGTON, May 7: The White House has pushed for nurturing ties with Pakistan, amid reports of strain in ties between the two countries after the State Department asked Islamabad to muster its “national resources” for purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets.
“The US has an important counterterrorism and national security relationship with Pakistan. We value the kind of cooperation that we get with Pakistan and we have found that cooperation beneficial to the national security of both our countries,” the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference yesterday.
“President Obama has obviously worked hard, even in some challenging circumstances, to cultivate an effective working relationship with Pakistan,” he said.
“We believe that preserving that relationship and nurturing that relationship is beneficial to the national security of the US, but also the national security of Pakistan,” Earnest said when asked about the impact on bilateral ties of the State Department’s decision to ask Islamabad to make full payment for purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
Early this week, the State Department said it has asked Pakistan to use its national resources to buy eight F-16 fighter jets from the it as a full price.
Because of the Congressional hold, the State Department said it would not be able to provide a subsidy of USD 430 million towards the USD 700 million cost of these fighter jets.
Pakistan has said it does not have the resources to buy the F-16 at full price and has indicated that it will turn over the China to meet the need of its air force.
The US has said that this is a sovereign decision of Pakistan on where to buy its fighter jets from. (PTI)
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