Author: T. V. Parasuram, in Washington
Publication: PTI
Date: June 18, 2003
The United States has informed Deputy
Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani during his recent visit to the country
that it is preparing an F-16 fighter deal with Pakistan, Defence and Foreign
Affairs Daily reported.
Quoting 'highly placed' Washington
sources, the report said US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld broke the
'disappointing' news to Advani in a 'very private meeting'.
The proposed deal includes the sale
of the new Lockheed Martin F-16 jets.
"The announcement (of sales) would
be made during the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is
due to arrive in Washington on June 24. The proposed sale would symbolise
the commitment of the US administration to Pakistan, which is now being
seen as increasingly central in the US strategy to contain Iran and to
isolate North Korea," the report said.
On the 'private' meeting, the report
said, "Rumsfeld broke the news of the intended sale in a special, and very
private, meeting with Advani, when the deputy premier arrived at the Willard
Hotel, in Washington, on June 8. The meeting was highly unusual in that
Rumsfeld wanted to tell Advani personally of the proposed sale to Pakistan,
in order to avoid the news reaching the Indian government through less
formal channels."
It said Indians were clearly unhappy
at the news, but, given the requirement of maintaining good relations with
Washington, they did not leak the news to the media.
