INDIAF-16 sale to Pakistan badly timed, 'complicates' India-US ties, says US senator John McCain
PTI | Feb 25, 2016, 10.44 PM IST
WASHINGTON: Top Republican senator John McCain on Thursday acknowledged the "timing" of the announcement on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan was "really bad" and that the Obama administration needs to explain the reason behind its decision which "complicates" India-US relations.
At a time, when the US is pushing hard to improve its defence relationship with India as part of its effort to maintain its dominance in the Asia Pacific region, such a move tends to "complicate" India-US ties, McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters at the Defence Writers Group.
"I think that the future of Asia, if we want to have the kind of influence that we always had and a deterrence to the Chinese behaviour is a very close relationship between the United States and India. Which by the way the F-16 issue complicates that," McCain said.
Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put a hold on the administration's notification to the US Congress early this month on the proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
"This is really a tough one for me and for a lot of people. I think the timing was really bad on this issue," McCain said on his position on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
He said that he would have "rather seen and kicked off" this over it to the next administration.
"It is not that far away. You know that F-16 issue has been hanging out there for four-five years. I think we could have waited a little longer," he said.
The Arizona Senator said he has talked to Corker about it.
"I have recommended to him that he has a hearing on the Foreign Relations Committee. I love my colleagues, but there is not one in 20 that is really focused on this issue. So we really do need some Congressional interest in this to make a decision," he observed.
"Frankly I am very conflicted on this issue. I would like to see an argument made by the administration rather than just an announcement. The two countries that are very important to us are India and Pakistan," he said.
"So it is not very often that I duck on an issue, but honestly, I am still thinking about it as to what we need to do. I think, the best way to do it is to have a hearing in the foreign relations committee which is their area of responsibility. I think Corker is going to do that," McCain said.
At a time, when the US is pushing hard to improve its defence relationship with India as part of its effort to maintain its dominance in the Asia Pacific region, such a move tends to "complicate" India-US ties, McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters at the Defence Writers Group.
"I think that the future of Asia, if we want to have the kind of influence that we always had and a deterrence to the Chinese behaviour is a very close relationship between the United States and India. Which by the way the F-16 issue complicates that," McCain said.
Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put a hold on the administration's notification to the US Congress early this month on the proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
"This is really a tough one for me and for a lot of people. I think the timing was really bad on this issue," McCain said on his position on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
He said that he would have "rather seen and kicked off" this over it to the next administration.
"It is not that far away. You know that F-16 issue has been hanging out there for four-five years. I think we could have waited a little longer," he said.
The Arizona Senator said he has talked to Corker about it.
"I have recommended to him that he has a hearing on the Foreign Relations Committee. I love my colleagues, but there is not one in 20 that is really focused on this issue. So we really do need some Congressional interest in this to make a decision," he observed.
Top Comment
In our selling selling F-16 to ISIS & selling to Porkistan both are the same.. Its not about the timing, selling dan... Read More"Frankly I am very conflicted on this issue. I would like to see an argument made by the administration rather than just an announcement. The two countries that are very important to us are India and Pakistan," he said.
"So it is not very often that I duck on an issue, but honestly, I am still thinking about it as to what we need to do. I think, the best way to do it is to have a hearing in the foreign relations committee which is their area of responsibility. I think Corker is going to do that," McCain said.
Most Popular
PM tweets Smriti Irani's speech, says 'Satyamev Jayate'
PM tweeted Smriti Irani's speech with 'Satyamev Jayate' as he asked people to listen to the minister's full speech.
Sex in speeding car kills driver as he hits truck
Call for country's ruin in name of dissent unacceptable: IIT-Madras profs
NEXT STORY
JNU row: Former professor to return award to HRD
PTI | Feb 25, 2016, 09.55 PM IST
NEW DELHI: After returning his Sahitya Akademi award to protest alleged intolerance, retired JNU professor Chaman Lal has decided to give back an award to the HRD Ministry in the wake of the raging row at the varsity.
"I have decided to return the award containing a citation and Rs 50,000 cash, conferred on me by Central Hindi Directorate, MHRD, in the year 2003 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for 'non-Hindi speaking area Hindi writer'.
"It is to protest the Home Minister and the HRD Minister's attack on JNU by arresting students union president Kanhaiya Kumar and terrorising the JNU faculty and students by dubbing them as anti-nationals through media," Lal said in a communication to JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar.
The professor had last year returned the Hindi translation award of Punjabi poet Paash's collection 'Samay O Bhai Samay', given to him by the Sahitya Akademi in 2002, in protest against alleged intolerance in the country.
Lal said the VC's moral authority will take a hit if he was not able to protect the faculty members, students and staff.
"As a VC, you are duty bound to protect the life and limb of all its members faculty, students and staff. If you cannot, then your moral authority will be greatly affected inside JNU even if you get full outside support from the MHRD, the Home Minister or Delhi Police. Moral authority has a greater force than 'danda' force," he said.
Lal also termed the VC's move to allow police to enter the campus as a "disaster", saying "there was no obligation of the university to allow Delhi Police to enter the campus, particularly when it had appointed its own committee to probe the matter".
The professor who came to JNU as a student in 1977, retired as Chairperson of varsity's Centre of Indian Languages in 2012. He was also JNU Teacher's Association (JNUTA) president in 2007.
Jawaharlal Nehru University is caught in a row over an event in the campus to commemorate the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, where "anti-national" slogans were allegedly raised. Kumar is in judicial custody in a sedition case in connection with the February 9 event.
Two other students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were yesterday sent to three days' police remand by a city court after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in the case.
Various foreign scholars have been conveying to the VC their disappointment at the turn of events at the varsity.
"I have decided to return the award containing a citation and Rs 50,000 cash, conferred on me by Central Hindi Directorate, MHRD, in the year 2003 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for 'non-Hindi speaking area Hindi writer'.
"It is to protest the Home Minister and the HRD Minister's attack on JNU by arresting students union president Kanhaiya Kumar and terrorising the JNU faculty and students by dubbing them as anti-nationals through media," Lal said in a communication to JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar.
The professor had last year returned the Hindi translation award of Punjabi poet Paash's collection 'Samay O Bhai Samay', given to him by the Sahitya Akademi in 2002, in protest against alleged intolerance in the country.
Lal said the VC's moral authority will take a hit if he was not able to protect the faculty members, students and staff.
"As a VC, you are duty bound to protect the life and limb of all its members faculty, students and staff. If you cannot, then your moral authority will be greatly affected inside JNU even if you get full outside support from the MHRD, the Home Minister or Delhi Police. Moral authority has a greater force than 'danda' force," he said.
Lal also termed the VC's move to allow police to enter the campus as a "disaster", saying "there was no obligation of the university to allow Delhi Police to enter the campus, particularly when it had appointed its own committee to probe the matter".
The professor who came to JNU as a student in 1977, retired as Chairperson of varsity's Centre of Indian Languages in 2012. He was also JNU Teacher's Association (JNUTA) president in 2007.
Jawaharlal Nehru University is caught in a row over an event in the campus to commemorate the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, where "anti-national" slogans were allegedly raised. Kumar is in judicial custody in a sedition case in connection with the February 9 event.
Two other students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were yesterday sent to three days' police remand by a city court after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in the case.
Various foreign scholars have been conveying to the VC their disappointment at the turn of events at the varsity.
COMMENTS
Most Popular
PM tweets Smriti Irani's speech, says 'Satyamev Jayate'
PM tweeted Smriti Irani's speech with 'Satyamev Jayate' as he asked people to listen to the minister's full speech.
Sex in speeding car kills driver as he hits truck
Call for country's ruin in name of dissent unacceptable: IIT-Madras profs
NEXT STORY
Smriti Irani's Durga Puja reference leads to ruckus in Rajya Sabha
TNN | Feb 25, 2016, 09.52 PM IST
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Thursday amid heated exchanges as Smriti Irani strongly countered the Congress and the Left over the JNU row and Rohith Vemula suicide.
However, it was a reference to Durga Puja by her during the speech that led to a ruckus in the Upper House.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma took strong objection to the reference and slammed the minister. He was supported by other opposition members.
With opposition not ready to relent, the chairman adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier, Smriti Irani seemed to pick up from where she had left on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha as she started her speech on an aggressive note in the Upper House.
She read out from Hyderabad University's dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's Facebook post to hit out at Left leader Sitaram Yechury.
Amid heated exchange, Smriti charged the opposition of deliberate interruptions to prevent her from speaking in a flow.
The Union HRD minister also dared the Congress.
(With inputs from agencies)
However, it was a reference to Durga Puja by her during the speech that led to a ruckus in the Upper House.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma took strong objection to the reference and slammed the minister. He was supported by other opposition members.
With opposition not ready to relent, the chairman adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier, Smriti Irani seemed to pick up from where she had left on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha as she started her speech on an aggressive note in the Upper House.
She read out from Hyderabad University's dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's Facebook post to hit out at Left leader Sitaram Yechury.
Amid heated exchange, Smriti charged the opposition of deliberate interruptions to prevent her from speaking in a flow.
The Union HRD minister also dared the Congress.
(With inputs from agencies)
COMMENTS
Most Popular
PM tweets Smriti Irani's speech, says 'Satyamev Jayate'
PM tweeted Smriti Irani's speech with 'Satyamev Jayate' as he asked people to listen to the minister's full speech.
Sex in speeding car kills driver as he hits truck
Call for country's ruin in name of dissent unacceptable: IIT-Madras profs
177 COMMENTS
Why worried about F-16 to Pakistan. American does not make a small mistake how come you think a biggest mistake. All Muslim countries buy scrap weapon and dance like there is no such weapon on earth. Most Muslim are ignorant stupid because of high illiteracy.