Islamabad: The US on Thursday said the last batch of
new F-16 jets purchased by Pakistan is scheduled to start
arriving in the country later this month and contended that
there had been no stoppage in its programme to supply the
combat aircraft to Islamabad.
A statement issued by the US Embassy described reports in
a section of the media about a stoppage in the US-Pakistan
F-16 programme as "not accurate".
"Neither Pakistan nor the United States has cancelled the
F-16 programme," the statement said.
The last of a batch of new F-16 jets purchased by Pakistan
is scheduled to arrive in the country in late January, the
statement said.
Several other F-16s purchased by Pakistan from the US are
undergoing mid-life upgrades and will arrive in the country
"beginning in late January", it said.
Deliveries of the aircraft will continue "throughout this
year and next”, it added.
The US has almost completely halted all military aid for
Pakistan in the wake of string of crises in bilateral
relations.
PTI
