Indian Americans rally to block F-16s sale to Pakistan

A group of prominent Indian Americans, led by noted physician Sudhir Parikh, are lobbying hard to block Washington's sale of F-16 combat aircraft to Pakistan, drawing support from a large Congressional caucus. "Our contention is the sals of F-16s to Pakistan will escalate the arms race in South Asia. This goes against US interests in the region and the world at large," said the New Jersey-based asthma and allergy specialist and publisher, here to receive the Padma Shri from President Pratibha Patil. "We feel it is also not advisable to sell these aircraft to Pakistan since the US wants a peaceful transition in Afghanistan where it counts both Pakistan and India as key allies," Parikh, who runs as many as 28 clinics in the US, told IANS in an interview.  "India today is a major growing power -- a super power in the making. I am sure the US sees India as an ally and will not seek to upset the Indian people," he said, adding this was the factor that helped clinch the US-India civilian nuclear deal.