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US 'considering' fighter planes for Pakistan: Foreign Office

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 14, IRNA
Pakistan-US-Planes
The United States is considering delivery of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesman said here on Monday.

"Our understanding is that these are under active consideration by the American administration," Jalil Abbas Jilani told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, when asked if US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to make announcement of the delivery of the fighter planes during her upcoming visit.

Rice is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on her first two-day visit as Secretary of State on March 17.

Jilani said she will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday and will call on President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.

"Besides the bilateral relations we would also be discussing regional situation, international issues and of course the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq."
To a question, the spokesman said defense cooperation is one of the issues with the US. "Our legitimate defense requirements are very well known to the United States."
To another question, the spokesman said the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service is primarily meant for the people of divided families of Kashmiris.

"Kashmiris would be the main beneficiaries of the service and remove one of the hardships faced by them."
The bus is expected to ply on April 7.

About of schedule of talks with India, the spokesman said during the foreign secretaries level talks in Islamabad, the two sides had particularly discussed the question of remaining six meetings relating to Siachin, Sir Creek, Wullar Barage, terrorism and drug trafficking, promotion of friendly exchanges and economic and trade cooperation.

These meetings are to take place from April to July this year, he said and hoped that the dates should be finalized soon through the diplomatic channels.

TK/TSH/2323/1412
::IRNA No.051 15/03/2005 16:32 --End