Pakistan welcomes US decision on F-16s aircraft sale
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 26, IRNA
Pakistan-US Aircraft
Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the decision of the U.S Administration to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan.
The US government has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, which defense analysts say will restore conventional imbalance in the region and will strengthen Pakistan's air capability.
"The sale of F-16s to Pakistan would help meet some of Pakistan's legitimate defense needs," the Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman said in a statement.
Reports suggest that US President George W Bush yesterday called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to tell him about the decision.
The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Prime Minister expressed 'great disappointment' over the decision, adding the move would exacerbate India's security concerns.
"The decision is reflective of the US commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and building a long-term strategic relationship with Pakistan," the Pakistani spokesman said.
The spokesman said the specifics of the sale of F-16s would be worked out by the governments of the two countries.
TK/1412
::IRNA No.016 26/03/2005 15:08 --End
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
