US Congress notifies delivery of 10 refurbished F-16s to Pakistan
June 4, 2008

ISLAMABAD: The US Congress notified delivery of 10 refurbished F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. Of the 12 refurbished planes, Pakistan is getting from the United States. The aircraft are part of a batch of 12 refurbished jets that Pakistan is getting from the US, and two F-16s have already been delivered.

The country will receive eight jets over two months, four each in June and July this year, while the remaining two F-16s will be delivered subsequently.

In March 2005, US President George Bush had decided to reward Pakistan, his key ally in the war on terrorism, by authorizing the sale of F-16 fighter jets to it. The move reversed 15 years of policy which begun under Bush’s father.

The US barred the sale of F-16s to Pakistan in 1990 out of concern over its then-undeclared nuclear weapons program, but Bush has forged a close relationship with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf since 9/11 attacks, and considers his help crucial in the battle against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist organization.

Pakistan is receiving the planes as a major non-NATO ally of the United States and their provision signifies close defence relations between the two countries.

Pakistan signed a separate agreement with the US in 2006 for purchasing 18 new F-16 C and F-16-D aircraft and associated weapon systems. The country had originally planned to buy 36 fighters but halved its order due to a financial crunch.

Initially, the US had agreed to sell 40 F-16s, but later, due to cash crunch Pakistan offered to purchase only 12 jets.

The Pakistan Air Force also has plans to replace its ageing F-7, Mirage III and Q-5 jets with the JF-17, which the country has jointly developed with China. The two countries began production of the JF-17 in January and eight jets are expected to be inducted by the PAF by the year-end.