NYT calls Pak ‘duplicitous’, backs hold on F-16 subsidy

The New York Times has joined a growing band of American individuals and entities to use the word “duplicitous” to describe Pakistan, an ally with an unhappy record on counterterrorism.

The New York Times has joined a growing band of American individuals and entities to use the word “duplicitous” to describe Pakistan, an ally with an unhappy record on counterterrorism.

Pakistan “remains a duplicitous and dangerous partner for the United States and Afghanistan, despite $33 billion in American aid and repeated attempts to reset relations on a more constructive course”, the daily said in a stinging editorial on Thursday, headlined “Time to put the squeeze on Pakistan”.

Pakistan remains a duplicitous and dangerous partner for the US despite $33 billion in American aid, the New York Times said. (AP File)

The editorial said the Senate foreign affairs committee chairman Bob Corker had “widely” put a hold on American funding for subsidizing the sale of eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan — it will have to pay the full amount of $700 million for them, instead of the $380 million it would have paid earlier.

Corker and several of his Senate colleagues cutting across party lines have also used the word “duplicitous” for Pakistan for its “double game” in dealing with terrorists.

While Pakistan has acted against some terrorists, it has allowed the Haqqani Network, which operates in Afghanistan from the safety of havens across the border, to prosper.

The Times said the conflict in Afghanistan can only be ended “if the American government finds a way to convince Pakistan to stop fueling the war”.