— Washington says stood with Pakistan in the wake of apocalyptic floods
— State Department ‘concerned’ over attempt to gag TV stations critical of Sharif government
WASHINGTON: The F-16 fighter programme is an important part of a broader US-Pakistan bilateral relationship and this fleet will allow the country to support counter-terrorism operations, the administration of President Joe Biden believes.
The comment from a State Department spokesperson came as the United States sought to defend its decision to provide a $450 million worth of military sustenance programme to Pakistan, braving fierce opposition from its strategic partner and Islamabad’s archrival India.
On September 8, the Biden administration approved a fleet sustainment programme for Pakistan to help it meet current and future counter-terrorism threats, in Washington’s first major security assistance to Islamabad in over four years.
“We did recently notify Congress of a proposed foreign military sale valued at $450 million for maintenance and sustainment services for the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 programme,” Ned Price told reporters at his daily press briefing on Tuesday.
“Pakistan is an important partner in a number of regards, an important counter-terrorism partner. And as part of our longstanding policy, we provide lifecycle maintenance and sustainment packages for US-origin platforms,” he said in response to a question.
Price said the programme is an important part of a broader US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, and this proposed sale will sustain Islamabad’s capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining the F-16 fleet.
Now, this is a fleet that allows Pakistan to support counterterrorism operations, and we expect Pakistan will take sustained action against all terrorist groups, added the spokesperson.
In 2018, Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump suspended about $2 billion in security assistance to Islamabad, accusing it of providing support to the Taliban and the Haqqani Network groups and not dismantling their “safe havens”.
During the briefing, Price was also asked to comment on media freedom in Pakistan, particularly with regard to restrictions on ARY News and Bol News, popular anti-government TV stations, in recent days and the arrest of the former station’s head of news, Ammad Yousuf.
Price responded by saying: “We continue to be concerned by significant restrictions on media outlets and civil society in Pakistan.
“I know that your outlet, ARY, has not been immune to this constricted space. We routinely raise our concerns about press freedom to all stakeholders around the world, including to our partners and our counterparts in Pakistan,” he said.
Price added that the US was concerned that media and content restrictions, as well as a lack of accountability for attacks against journalists, undermined the exercise of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
“A free press and informed citizenry, we believe, are key to democratic societies around the world, the key to our democratic future. That applies equally to Pakistan as it does to other countries around the world”.
FLOOD ASSISTANCE
Meanwhile, the US said it has flown 10 missions into Pakistan to deliver over one million pounds of critical humanitarian supplies and equipment to people affected by the rain-triggered catastrophic flooding that has killed nearly 1,400 people, washed away about two million homes and destroyed over four million acres of farmland.
The Department of Defence (DoD) is in support of the US Agency for International Development’s efforts to provide assistance to Pakistan in the wake of massive flooding and the humanitarian assistance crisis there.
The current floods triggered by monsoon rains in Pakistan have so far killed nearly 1,480 people and injured another 12,728 while damaging 6,674 kilometres of the road network and destroying over 1.7 million houses.
“Our condolences certainly go out to those who’ve been impacted by this terrible natural disaster,” Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.
.@pentagonpressec: The @DeptofDefense is in support of @USAID efforts to provide assistance to Pakistan in the wake of massive flooding and the humanitarian crisis there, and our condolences go out to those who have been impacted by this terrible natural disaster. pic.twitter.com/f1pxkU1Lwz
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) September 13, 2022
“To date, the DoD has supported the US government’s USAID-led response by providing critical airlift and staging support. US Air Force C-17 and C-130 aircraft assigned to US Air Force’s Central Command have so far flown 10 missions into Pakistan, delivering over one million pounds of critical humanitarian supplies and equipment to aid the Pakistani people, and we expect this pace to continue over the next several days,” he said.
Humanitarian relief supplies being transported include emergency food, drinking water, sanitation supplies and equipment, portable shelters, bedding, hygiene supplies and kitchen sets, Ryder said.
At the White House, John Kirby, national security spokesman, said the devastation in Pakistan is “pretty severe”, as 33 million people are affected. Infrastructure literally washed away, including almost two million homes and more than four million acres of farmland, he told reporters.
The US continues to stand with Pakistan and the communities inside the country and will help them as much as it can, he added.
