Military

US agrees to Pakistan`s required weapons` list

IRNA

Islamabad, Sept 30, IRNA -- The US defense department has agreed to 
the list of all the defence procurement items given by Pakistan. 
This was stated by the Defence Secretary, retired Lt. General 
Hamid Nawaz Khan at a news conference in Rawalpindi on Tuesday on 
return from the United States where he attended Pak-US defence 
consultative group meeting. 
He said a couple of items requested by Pakistan would, however, 
require congressional approval including the upgradation of existing 
F-16s and to refurbish the strength of the fleet. 
Replying to questions Hamid Nawaz Khan said Pakistan has made a 
major breakthrough in defence acquisition and if the required items 
are provided, the conventional arms imbalance in South Asia would be 
corrected to some extent. 
He said Pakistan told the American side that India is acquiring 
munition including Israel and deterioration of one side`s capability 
would be dangerous for peace and stability in South Asia. 
He said the Pentagon has agreed to raise the strength of 
Pakistan`s F-16s to its original level of forty and help upgrade them.
Asked if Pakistani list included a system to counter the Indian 
acquisition of Phalcon air borne system from Israel, the defence 
secretary replied in the affirmative. 
He, however, said that this would require congressional approval. 
To a question he said Belgium has agreed to sell F-16s to Pakistan 
if a clearance is given by the US administration. 
He said Pakistan is also interested to acquire old US military 
equipment which is provided free of cost and can be upgraded at the 
cost of the recipient. He said Pakistan has also given a list of such 
items too. 
TK/TSH/215 
End