The opposition lawmakers in the Senate on Wednesday strongly reacted to a statement by the US Embassy in Islamabad that "America is seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential misuse of US-made F-16 fighter jets by it against India in violation of the end-user agreement."
Speaking in the Senate on an adjournment motion on prevalent situation between India and Pakistan moved by Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, former Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani questioned, "What is the point to purchase F-16s worth billions of dollars if we can't use them against the enemy country - India."
"A former officer of Pakistan Air Force who was signatory to the deal denied there was such an agreement, but Americans insist that there was...what would we do of the F-16s if we can't use them against our enemy India?" he questioned.
Rabbani said that by following in the footstep of Israel, India wants to turn Kashmir into another Palestine, which is reflected in its recent violations at the Line of Control (LoC).
He said that India dropped bombs in Pakistani territory followed by skirmishes with Pakistan military and then it attempted to intrude Pakistan's territorial waters, the enemy country wants to convey a message like Israel that it wants to 'be a policeman of the region."
"In search of alleged terrorists, they [India] can go across any international border and they can go and penetrate and search to carry out a search operation anywhere, which we we'll never allow no matter what it costs," he declared.
He contended that this is exactly what the Israel has been doing in Arab countries. Given the situation he called upon the government and the Foreign Office to look into the matter from the said perspective, as mere statements of the foreign minister on TV are not enough.
"The foreign minister [Shah Mehmood] should come to Senate and National Assembly as both Houses are in session...this is not sufficient to say that I've spoken to the foreign minister of this and that country. What's the reason not a single country including our friendly countries openly condemned India's violation of our territory?" he questioned.