Biden criticises F-16 fighter jets sale to Pak

The Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, has urged the Bush Administration to suspend a nearly 500 million dollar deal to supply Pakistan with 18 F-16 fighter jets until Pakistan returns to the democratic path.

Washington, Jan 4 : The Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Democratic Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, has urged the Bush Administration to suspend a nearly 500 million dollar deal to supply Pakistan with 18 F-16 fighter jets until Pakistan returns to the democratic path.

Biden said: "The administration's decision is just wrong and should be reversed immediately until Pakistan returns to the democratic path."

He also raised the issue of how the planes would be paid for, suggesting any use of U.S. aid would make the sale illegal.

Although the terms of the sale were not yet public, the recently passed Defence Appropriations Bill "bars any assistance to Pakistan for weapons sales that are not for counter-terrorism purposes," The Nation quoted Biden, as saying.

The deal was signed on December 31, 2007 a day after the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

ANI