Pakistan close to $5 billion F-16 fighter purchase
Published: Sat Aug 12th, 2006Source: www.india-defence.com
Pakistan is said to be close to signing a US $5 billion deal for advanced F-16 fighter-jets, despite stepped-up security demands pushed by U.S. lawmakers, the official responsible for the sale said on Friday.Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kohler, head of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, said he expected a government-to-government pact locking in the purchase to be wrapped up as early as this month or the middle of next month.
The agreement would clear the way for the U.S. Air Force to complete a so-called foreign military sales contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., which builds the F-16, as soon as November, he said in reply to queries from Reuters.
Supplying updated F-16s to Pakistan is a key part of President Bush's South Asia strategy, unveiled in March 2005 and aimed at boosting and balancing post-Sept. 11 security ties with India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The sale would bolster President Pervez Musharraf in backing the U.S.-declared global war on terror and expand U.S. access, influence and leverage, U.S. officials have said.
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