'Bad timing', says top US senator about sale of F-16 fighters to Pakistan

Washington: Top Republican senator John McCain acknowledged the "timing" of the announcement on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan was "really bad" and that the Obama administration needs to explain the reason behind its decision which "complicates" India-US relations.

At a time, when the US is pushing hard to improve its defence relationship with India as part of its effort to maintain its dominance in the Asia Pacific region, such a move tends to "complicate" India-US ties, Mr McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters at the Defence Writers Group.

"I think that the future of Asia, if we want to have the kind of influence that we always had and deterrence to the Chinese behaviour is a very close relationship between the United States and India. Which by the way the F-16 issue complicates that," Mr McCain said.

Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put a hold on the administration's notification to the US Congress early this month on the proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.

"This is really a tough one for me and for a lot of people. I think the timing was really bad on this issue," McCain said on his position on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.

He said that he would have "rather seen and kicked off" this over it to the next administration.

"It is not that far away. You know that F-16 issue has been hanging out there for four-five years. I think we could have waited a little longer," he said.

The Arizona Senator said he has talked to Corker about it.

"I have recommended to him that he has a hearing on the Foreign Relations Committee. I love my colleagues, but there is not one in 20 that is really focused on this issue. So we really do need some Congressional interest in this to make a decision," he observed.

"Frankly I am very conflicted on this issue. I would like to see an argument made by the administration rather than just an announcement. The two countries that are very important to us are India and Pakistan," he said.

"So it is not very often that I duck on an issue, but honestly, I am still thinking about it as to what we need to do. I think, the best way to do it is to have a hearing in the foreign relations committee which is their area of responsibility. I think Corker is going to do that," Mr McCain said.