EDITORIAL
Selling F-16 aircraft to Pakistan a mistake

We're dismayed by the Bush administration's decision to sell F-16 aircraft, reportedly 24 of them at $35 million a pop, to Pakistan.

Given the historic and existing tensions between Pakistan and India, this sale is like pouring kerosene on a smoldering fire. The possibility that the administration also will sell F-16 or F-18 aircraft to India can hardly be seen as calming.

Since the international community has invested enormous time and effort in defusing hostilities between the two countries, this deal is counterproductive.

The United States also had made great strides toward restoring relations with Pakistan's longtime adversary, India, the world's largest democracy. India is certain to be deeply antagonized by the F-16 sale to Pakistan.

The White House justifies the deal by saying it's a reward for Pakistan's steadfastness in the war on terror. The administration appears to be in denial about Pakistan's complicity in an illicit global trade in nuclear weapons components and materials with countries like North Korea, Libya and Iran.

The sort of aid Pakistan needs and deserves is guidance and funding to restructure its dangerous jihadist medrasa schools, and, in general, to improve its far-too-low standard of living and poor human rights record.