US conditions? Look what Pak has had to swallow for its F-16 supplies

In stark contrast, the Indo-US nuclear cooperation Bill that was passed with a handsome bipartisan majority in the US House of Representatives today brings no additional burden on New Delhi than what was agreed on July 18 last year. The reporting requirements are all an affair between the Executive and the Legislature in Washington.

But consider what Pak President Pervez Musharraf has had to swallow, according to testimony by US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs John F Hillen to the House International Relations Committee, the same panel that first voted for the nuclear deal.

• US government has done a “security site survey” of Pak bases and facilities, drawn up security plans of these sites where the F-16s will be located and it has been put in the deal that Pakistan will comply with the ‘‘approved security plans’’.

• US presence to ‘‘monitor compliance’’ with the security plan and a ‘‘very enhanced end-use monitoring programme’’.

• Two-man rule for access to equipment and restricted areas, wherein Pakistan cannot use these F-16s in exercises and operations with third countries without prior approval of the US.

• The planes are not equipped with technology that would allow them to carry out offensive action to penetrate airspace of another country that is ‘‘highly defended’’. They cannot deliver nuclear weapons.

• F-16 maintenance and parts storage has to be in dedicated facilities run by Air Force personnel—and not sub-contractors—which are part of the ‘‘overall surveillance plan.’’

• No supply of the aircraft unless US finds Pakistan ‘‘fully compliant’’ with the security plan requirements.

• Routine access to F-16 aircraft also restricted to Pakistan Air Force personnel pre-approved by the US. And only the PAF can perform maintenance, no Pakistan contractors, industry or third countries to be involved.

“The security plan greatly exceeds US Air Force standards for our own security of these weapons systems,’’ Hillen said while urging the House panel to approve the sale. Even this did not fully convince the members as Hillen then went on to say there was more which he would discuss in detail in a ‘‘closed session’’.

India, on the other hand, has accepted to no such US involvement in its nuclear facilities. The reporting requirements are an internal exercise, officials said, as they pointed out numerous such reports the US President already makes on India’s nuclear programme even before India tested the device.