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US ready to deliver F-16s to Pakistan?

May 22, 1998 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Pesident Bill Clinton on Friday described his talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as "a good long conversation about where we go from here" to deal with Pakistan's security and other concerns. He told White House reporters he was impressed with the depth of understanding that the Pakistani Prime Minister showed.
Quoting administration sources, NBC television said the president was considering starting delivery of these planes in batches of "ones and twos" so that the entire lot takes some time to reach Pakistan. If during this time Pakistan detonates the nuclear device, the delivery could be stopped and the waiver withdrawn, the NBC reported.

Though President Clinton is eager to issue the waiver immediately, the NBC sources said some of his foreign policy staffers were advising him to take a little more time - perhaps a week or two to fully consult Congress.