New Delhi: The United States of America faces the prospect of the F-16s it had supplied to Pakistan being used against its own forces.
Pakistani Air Force F-16s were patrolling the skies near the Afghan border on Sunday apparently to deter any further strikes by unmanned US Air Force drones.
Those jets could also be used to prevent US ground troops from carrying out attacks on militant targets in Pakistan.
The prospects of US-supplied F-16 being used against its own forces has pushed the US Congress to schedule a hearing titled - Defeating al-Qaeda's Air Force: Pakistan's F-16 Program in the Fight Against Terrorism.
Since al-Qaeda does not have an air force, the implication is that the Pakistan Air Force is acting for al-Qaeda. The hearing could provide fresh ammunition to critics of US arms supplies to Pakistan.
The hearing has been convened by Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman, the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.
Ackerman and many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill have for long questioned the rationale of giving the F-16s to Pakistan as a part of the war on terror.
The congressmen now want a comprehensive statement from senior officials about the complete scope of the F-16 programme with Pakistan that include the number of planes, updates made to existing planes, proposed armaments, schedule of delivery and source of payment.
The sub-committee is expected to review what counter-terrorism equipment or programmes were foregone as a result of the July 16 reprogramming request. Besides, the Panel will also look at " how the F-16 programme fits into the broader US strategy in the fight against terrorism as well as into the overall US relationship with Pakistan".
(With inputs from PTI)
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