F-16 jet sale to Pak: Congress takes dig at Modi; questions foreign policy

Said Modi's 'singular achievement' on foreign policy front is that both US and Russia have become 'major arms suppliers' to Pakistan

Congress today took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Obama administration's decision to sell F-16 jets to Pakistan, saying his "singular achievement" on foreign policy front is that both US and Russia have become "major arms suppliers" to Pakistan.

"The singular achievement of Modi's foreign policy is that both US and Russia have become major arms suppliers to Pakistan," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said here.

He said the US has a long standing defence relationship with Pakistan "despite it being virtually a terrorist entity at its core".

"F-16s are not tactical weapons. They are strategic platforms that have the potential of tilting the conventional power balance in the region," he said.

India today summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma here and conveyed its "displeasure and disappointment" over Obama administration's decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Despite mounting opposition from influential lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties, the US State Department notified the US Congress that it has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Pakistan for F-16 Block 52 aircraft, equipment, training, and logistics support.

The proposal needs approval by the US Congress.