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President wants US to release F-16 aircraft
November 10, 2001 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
President Pervez Musharraf said in New York on Friday that he would seek concrete "gestures" from the United States, including release of F-16 fighters to demonstrate its appreciation of Pakistan support in the US campaign against terrorism.
In an interview with the New York Times, he said "visible gestures" of gratitude from the United States would help blunt public criticism of his decision to ally his country strongly with Washington.
He placed special emphasis on the F-16's, because their arrival would be the most visible sign that the United States was restoring Pakistan to the stature of a genuine ally.
The Times said that Gen Musharraf was not reticent in voicing his grievance with this treatment. Saying that "Pakistan certainly desires a long-standing and sustainable relationship with the United States," he said that "trust has to be built."
When asked whose fault it was, he said, "As a Pakistani, I have to say the fault lies with the United States." Gen Musharraf said there was a widespread sense that Washington abandoned Pakistan.
"The main issue is we were part of a coalition," he said. "We fought a war together and evicted the Soviet Union from Afghanistan." The gestures that would reverse these wrongs, he said, should include major debt relief, military assistance, and more understanding for the sensitivity of the Pakistani public on the issue of its nuclear weapons.
He placed special emphasis on the F-16's, because their arrival would be the most visible sign that the United States was restoring Pakistan to the stature of a genuine ally.
The Times said that Gen Musharraf was not reticent in voicing his grievance with this treatment. Saying that "Pakistan certainly desires a long-standing and sustainable relationship with the United States," he said that "trust has to be built."
When asked whose fault it was, he said, "As a Pakistani, I have to say the fault lies with the United States." Gen Musharraf said there was a widespread sense that Washington abandoned Pakistan.
"The main issue is we were part of a coalition," he said. "We fought a war together and evicted the Soviet Union from Afghanistan." The gestures that would reverse these wrongs, he said, should include major debt relief, military assistance, and more understanding for the sensitivity of the Pakistani public on the issue of its nuclear weapons.
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