Foreign Secretary William Hague on UK-Pakistan relations at the 60th Anniversary of the Pakistan Society:
And my message to you all this evening is that Britain’s relationship with Pakistan is here to stay. What happens in Pakistan matters to Britain, and we will stand by Pakistan as it addresses the challenges it faces and build a durable relationship that we know will stand the test of time.
We can be confident of doing so because ours is not a new relationship founded on a narrow set of interests.
We enjoy a tremendous latticework of connections of history and shared experiences, embodied in one million people with close ties to Pakistan living in Britain today and the thousands of our citizens who travel back and forth each year to work, study and support projects or for simple enjoyment.
The United States Defense Department has awarded a 42.3 million dollar contract to Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s largest defense contractors, to provide 10 upgrade kits for Pakistan’s F-16 A/B aircrafts.
According to the Daily Times, the contract has been awarded under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme for Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s Block 15 F-16 A/B Aircraft Enhanced Modernization Program.
Given how opaque the Saudi government is, it is unclear what is prompting the latest bout of uncertainty. Among the top reasons government and industry officials cite is Riyadh’s unhappiness the U.S. did not support a Palestinian bid for UN membership. Another is that the recent turmoil in Saudi Arabia — with Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz named new defense minister after his predecessor died — has simply created too much uncertainty for the arms package to move forward.
Boeing has a lot riding on the deal — especially since it would keep F-15 production alive past 2020 — and company officials recently indicated it was still on, without projecting timing. It is important for Boeing, financially, too, since it has already spent money to avoid a production gap.
India and Britain – the new special relationship? – RUSI
In this Vanity Fair adaptation of The Eleventh Day, by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan, the authors explore connections between the Saudi royal family, the September 11th attacks, and the Bush administration’s suppression of critical evidence.
For 10 years now, a major question about 9/11 has remained unresolved. It was, as 9/11-commission chairmen Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton recalled, “Had the hijackers received any support from foreign governments?” There was information that pointed to the answer, but the commissioners apparently deemed it too disquieting to share in full with the public.
Clinton Cites Pakistan Anti-Terror Help in Bid to Avert Aid Cut – Bloomberg
“Special Relationship” – if so one dysfunctional couple.
I have wondered how India might be today had the British not split the country with Pakistan.
OTOH, the American public probably has a more realistic view of Pakistan and certainly of Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistanis have one thing right though – American’s interest that ebbs and flows with them and world events.
I read a fascinating book on how Pakistan got the Bomb – Theft and Reagan’s turning a blind eye because at that very time we needed them to help against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
@ Bill Brandt – we are truly entering an interesting period. Yikes! Everyone’s relationships are so convoluted, we have friends, friends who are friends with our enemies, frenemies, every sort of relationship under the sun. I wish I had the sense that our FOREIGN POLICY APPARATUS were nimble enough to handle it all. They worry me, that ole’ Washington crew advising Presidents and stuff.
@ Jonathan – The American public has a more realistic view of most things than the technocrats. But, not always. I dunno. It’s all so complicated.
– Madhu