Senate shoots down resolution to block F-16 sale to Pakistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate killed a measure to block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan as opponents of the $700 million deal insisted no U.S. tax dollars should be used to subsidize the transaction unless Islamabad becomes a more trusted ally.
Senators voted 71-24 on Thursday to reject a resolution sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a vocal critic of American foreign aid to Pakistan and other countries.
Washington has openly accused Pakistan's intelligence agency, the InterServices Intelligence, of supporting the Haqqani network, a Taliban faction that is also a U.S.-declared terrorist group.