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Accord on Pakistani F-16 spares likely
September 16, 2003 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
According to Pakistani sources, the United States and Pakistan are expected to reach an agreement in Washington this week for the resumption of defence supplies to Islamabad.
"Once an agreement is reached, the United States will resume sending spares for major US military equipment Pakistan received in the past," a senior US official said. "Pakistan is already getting some spares from the United States," he added.
After the agreement, Pakistan will also get spares and ammunition for the 38 F-16 block 15s it had received from the United States during the Afghan war in the 1980s.
Diplomatic sources told Dawn that the United States may also agree to upgrade the F-16s after the two-day talks of the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group in Washington that begin on Tuesday.
Besides the formal talks, US and Pakistani defence officials are also holding a series of separate meetings on Monday and Thursday.
"The two sides have already reached an understanding on these two points: military spares and upgradation of the F-16s," said a senior diplomatic source.
The upgrading would greatly enhance the combat ability of the 20-year-old F-16s.
Besides military supplies, Pakistan is also expected to raise its concerns over the Israeli decision to provide Phalcon airborne early warning systems and Arrow missile technology to India, diplomatic sources said.
During the talks Pakistan may also raise an old issue: releasing some F-16 aircraft the United States had agreed to sell in the early 1990s but had stopped the delivery following differences over Islamabad's nuclear programme.
Pakistan will probably push the US to agree on the sale of Belgian F-16s.
After the agreement, Pakistan will also get spares and ammunition for the 38 F-16 block 15s it had received from the United States during the Afghan war in the 1980s.
Diplomatic sources told Dawn that the United States may also agree to upgrade the F-16s after the two-day talks of the US-Pakistan Defence Consultative Group in Washington that begin on Tuesday.
Besides the formal talks, US and Pakistani defence officials are also holding a series of separate meetings on Monday and Thursday.
"The two sides have already reached an understanding on these two points: military spares and upgradation of the F-16s," said a senior diplomatic source.
The upgrading would greatly enhance the combat ability of the 20-year-old F-16s.
Besides military supplies, Pakistan is also expected to raise its concerns over the Israeli decision to provide Phalcon airborne early warning systems and Arrow missile technology to India, diplomatic sources said.
During the talks Pakistan may also raise an old issue: releasing some F-16 aircraft the United States had agreed to sell in the early 1990s but had stopped the delivery following differences over Islamabad's nuclear programme.
Pakistan will probably push the US to agree on the sale of Belgian F-16s.
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