US confirms missile sales to Pakistan - daily
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 9, IRNA
Pakistan-US-Missile
The United States has confirmed the sale of some of the missiles from a package of 1.3 billion US dollars of ordered military equipment to Pakistan.
The Dawn newspaper reported in its Monday's issue that the order placed by Pakistan included eight P3-C Orion aircraft, six Phalanx close-in weapons systems, and at least 60 Harpoon missiles.
It said the US Defense Secretary Cooperation Agency confirmed that the US had approved the sale of two sets of advanced missiles to Pakistan valued at a total of 226 million dollars.
The body notified the Congress of two potential foreign military sales to Pakistan 180 million dollars in Harpoon Block-II missiles and 46 million dollars in AIM-9M-1/2 Sidewinder missiles, according to the report.
"The sale would contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the US by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be a key ally in the global war on terrorism," The Nation daily wrote on Sunday.
The Harpoon missiles, it added, will be used to upgrade Pakistan's Navy and reduce the risk of hitting non-combat targets.
On March 25, the US President George W Bush okayed the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in a reversal of 15 years of US policy aimed at curbing Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.
Pakistan exploded nuclear devices in response. India had earlier detonated nuclear devices in 1974.
MHA/TSH/2325/1432
::IRNA No.021 09/05/2005 12:33 --End
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