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US considering Pakistan`s request for F-16 jets: official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 4, IRNA -- The US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas 
Feith said on Thursday that Washington is still considering 
Pakistan`s request for F-16s aircraft. 
"It is an important issue and it will be dealt with at the right 
time," he told separate news conferences in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. 
Islamabad struck a deal with the United States to buy some two 
dozen fighter planes in the 1980s when Pakistan was a close US ally 
against Soviets troops in Afghanistan, but the deal was canceled in 
the `90s when Washington subjected Islamabad to sanctions due to its 
nuclear weapons program. 
"There is a lot of hope in the air" to get F-16 planes," Pakistan 
Defense Secretary Hamid Nawaz said at a joint press conference with 
Douglas Feith. 
Earlier, Feith took part in a meeting of the Pakistan-US Defense 
Consultative Group -- a forum set up in 1984 to promote military 
cooperation between the two countries. 
Nawaz led the Pakistani side in the talks. 
Feith said Pakistan and the United States have common interests in
the international war against terrorism. 
To a question regarding India`s arms acquisition program, he said 
America was in favor of steps that promote peace and stability in the 
region. 
He welcomed the dialogue process between Pakistan and India. 
Faith said the United States supports the efforts made by 
Pakistan and India to resolve their issues through diplomacy. 
He said at the Defense Consultative Group meeting, they had good 
discussions with their Pakistani colleagues on wide range of topics. 
These included elections and democratic process in Iraq, 
Afghanistan situation, regional issues, current situation of 
Pakistan-India dialogue, defense issues, and war on terrorism. 
To a question, he said there have been a number of concrete 
things that came out from the discussions between Pakistan and the 
United States. 
He said both countries have been working on projects together like
operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan and war on terrorism. 
He said President George Bush has announced a security assistance 
program of six hundred million dollars a year for five year to help 
Pakistan. 
TK/TSH/2325/1432