Pakistan wants to buy F-16s from Belgium
IRNA
2003/08/19
Brussels, Aug 19, IRNA -- Pakistan wants to buy as yet an unknown number of F-16 jet fighter planes from Belgium, the Flemish-langage daily ``De Morgen`` reported Tuesday. Belgian is offering to sell 30 F-16s, but the deal with Pakistan needs US consent, said the Belgian paper. The Americans have their own F-16s to sell and on a lower price and better conditions, a Belgian defence specialist Stef Goris told the paper. Belgian defence minister Andre Flahut was quoted saying that the dossier over the sale of the F-16s has not been sent for advice and neither has Belgian asked the Americans for their approval as yet. However, De Morgen quoted the leader of Belgium`s Socialist party (SP-A), Steve Stevaert, saying that it is not a good idea to deliver our F-16s to Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan is a nuclear power and the F-16s could be used to drop nuclear arms. Moreover, Pakistan is not a signatory to the NPT. NK/212 End
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