Pakistan may get F-16 planes from US: Air Force chief
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Sept 15, IRNA -- Pakistan expects delayed delivery of some F-16 planes from the United States while delivery of two of the six Hercules C-130s is expected in December, local press reports said on Wednesday. Pakistan has asked the US for 70 F-16s, but the Americans had indicated that they might settle for 18 and that might happen after the US presidential elections, Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Marshall Kaleem Sadat was quoted as saying. PAF, he told newsmen in Karachi on Tuesday, was looking for various options to meet its high-tech requirements as he referred to the difficulties Islamabad had to face due to stringent political decisions by the US Administration. According to the official, the Swedish Griffin and China`s F-10 fighter jects remained leading contenders. "Whichever of these aircraft is selected, it will meet our high-tech requirements," the PAF chief said. On the American decision to stop the supply of F-16s, the air chief said that whenever he met US officials he would tell them that public opinion in Pakistan was convinced the US wanted to keep Pakistan weak. "They have realized it now," he said. MHA/TSH/2321/1432
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