U.S. senator does not expect Pakistan F-16 sale to be blockedWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday he does not expect an upcoming vote on a $700 million sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan to keep the deal from going ahead. However, he said there was still discussion of whether U.S. taxpayer funds could be used to finance the purchase. President Barack Obama’s administration announced on Feb. 12 that it had approved the sale of the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) aircraft as well as radars and other equipment to Pakistan. It drew immediate criticism from India and concern from some members of Congress.  Republican Senator Rand Paul in late February invoked legislation known as the Arms Export Control Act in the hope of stopping the sale by passing a Resolution of Disapproval, calling Pakistan “an uncertain ally.” Cardin told reporters he opposed Paul’s resolution and expected it would fail, with the chamber’s Republican and Democratic leaders opposing it. The measure could be taken up by the Senate as soon as Thursday. Cardin said lawmakers had concerns about Pakistan’s nuclear program, commitment to fighting terrorist organizations and cooperation in the Afghanistan peace process but generally supported the sale. “It was not controversial that Pakistan needs to modernize its air force and its counter insurgency and counter-terrorism activities, particularly in the mountainous territory of the border with Afghanistan,” he said. Congress is currently considering a request to “reprogram” some funds, in other words, use them for a different purpose than allocated in a budget bill, to help finance the deal. Cardin said he was not yet prepared to make a judgment on whether U.S. taxpayer funds should be used to help Pakistan with the purchase.     politicsNews
senator expect pakistan sale blockedwashington reuters senator ben jardin top democrat senate foreign relations committee said wednesday expect upcoming vote million sale fighter jets pakistan keep deal going ahead however said still discussion whether taxpayer funds could used finance purchase president barack obama administration announced approved sale locked martin corp aircraft well radars equipment pakistan it drew immediate criticism india concern members congress republican senator rand paul late february invoked legislation known arms export control act hope stopping sale passing resolution disapproval calling pakistan uncertain jardin told reporters opposed paul resolution expected would fail chamber republican democratic leaders opposing the measure could taken senate soon thursday jardin said lawmakers concerns pakistan nuclear program commitment fighting terrorist organizations cooperation afghanistan peace process generally supported sale it controversial pakistan needs modernize air force counter insurgency activities particularly mountainous territory border afghanistan said congress currently considering request program funds words use different purpose allocated budget bill help finance deal jardin said yet prepared make judgment whether taxpayer funds used help pakistan purchase politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: U.S. senator does not expect Pakistan F-16 sale to be blockedWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday he does not expect an upcoming vote on a $700 million sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan to keep the deal from going ahead. However, he said there was still discussion of whether U.S. taxpayer funds could be used to finance the purchase. President Barack Obama’s administration announced on Feb. 12 that it had approved the sale of the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) aircraft as well as radars and other equipment to Pakistan. It drew immediate criticism from India and concern from some members of Congress.  Republican Senator Rand Paul in late February invoked legislation known as the Arms Export Control Act in the hope of stopping the sale by passing a Resolution of Disapproval, calling Pakistan “an uncertain ally.” Cardin told reporters he opposed Paul’s resolution and expected it would fail, with the chamber’s Republican and Democratic leaders opposing it. The measure could be taken up by the Senate as soon as Thursday. Cardin said lawmakers had concerns about Pakistan’s nuclear program, commitment to fighting terrorist organizations and cooperation in the Afghanistan peace process but generally supported the sale. “It was not controversial that Pakistan needs to modernize its air force and its counter insurgency and counter-terrorism activities, particularly in the mountainous territory of the border with Afghanistan,” he said. Congress is currently considering a request to “reprogram” some funds, in other words, use them for a different purpose than allocated in a budget bill, to help finance the deal. Cardin said he was not yet prepared to make a judgment on whether U.S. taxpayer funds should be used to help Pakistan with the purchase.     politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: senator expect pakistan sale blockedwashington reuters senator ben jardin top democrat senate foreign relations committee said wednesday expect upcoming vote million sale fighter jets pakistan keep deal going ahead however said still discussion whether taxpayer funds could used finance purchase president barack obama administration announced approved sale locked martin corp aircraft well radars equipment pakistan it drew immediate criticism india concern members congress republican senator rand paul late february invoked legislation known arms export control act hope stopping sale passing resolution disapproval calling pakistan uncertain jardin told reporters opposed paul resolution expected would fail chamber republican democratic leaders opposing the measure could taken senate soon thursday jardin said lawmakers concerns pakistan nuclear program commitment fighting terrorist organizations cooperation afghanistan peace process generally supported sale it controversial pakistan needs modernize air force counter insurgency activities particularly mountainous territory border afghanistan said congress currently considering request program funds words use different purpose allocated budget bill help finance deal jardin said yet prepared make judgment whether taxpayer funds used help pakistan purchase politicsnews