F-16 Fighting Falcon News

June 4, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - The United States Congress has notified the delivery of ten F-16s to Pakistan, which would conclude the sale of twelve refurbished F-16 aircraft, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) will receive four F-16s later this month and four more in July from the United States as part of a batch of 12 refurbished aircraft.

Two F-16s have already been delivered to the PAF back in July of 2007 and the remaining two of the deal will come at a later date, which has yet to be specified.

Pakistan is receiving these jets because of its role as a "major non-NATO ally of the US" & as a key partner in the US war against terror. The US embargoed sales to Pakistan in 1990 over its nuclear weapons program, but President Bush has forged close relations with country and President Pervez Musharraf since the attacks of 9/11.

The Pakistani Air Force signed a separate agreement with the US in 2006 for the sale of 18 new F-16 block 52 jets and associated weapon systems. The country had originally planned to buy 36 fighters but halved its order due to financial constraints.