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Musharraf to seek release of purchased F-16s and more
Islamabad, June 20: Pakistan`s top defence official said today that President Pervez Musharraf would seek US assistance in upgrading the country`s military, including the release of F-16s purchased more than 13 years ago.
Islamabad, June 20: Pakistan's top defence official said today that President Pervez Musharraf would seek US assistance in upgrading the country's military, including the release of F-16s purchased more than 13 years ago.
Defence Secretary Hamid Nawaz Khan was unaware of any plans by Washington to announce the release of the fighter jets during Musharraf's visit there, as reported by the US-based 'Defence and Foreign Affairs Journal' and the Stratfor Global Affairs think-tank.
"We are trying our best not only to get F-16s but other things for the modernisation of our defence forces," Khan, a retired lieutenant general, said.
"I do not really know (about F-16 plans), but what really happens (during the visit) you cannot say.
"We will always buy the best equipment that can be bought for our armed forces."
A Pentagon spokesman yesterday denied reports the jets would be released.
Washington blocked the release of 28 F-16s, already paid for by Pakistan, under the October 1990 Pressler Amendment because it was unable to certify that Pakistan did not have a nuclear program.
Pakistan only went public with its nuclear program when it detonated several test devices in May 1998.
Additional economic and military sanctions have been slapped on Pakistan since 1990, largely over the 1998 tests and Musharraf's 1999 coup.
Sanctions on training and hardware sales were lifted rapidly after Musharraf swung Pakistan's support behind US-led efforts to topple its former ally the Taliban in Afghanistan, but there has been little trade.
Bureau Report
"We are trying our best not only to get F-16s but other things for the modernisation of our defence forces," Khan, a retired lieutenant general, said.
"I do not really know (about F-16 plans), but what really happens (during the visit) you cannot say.
"We will always buy the best equipment that can be bought for our armed forces."
A Pentagon spokesman yesterday denied reports the jets would be released.
Washington blocked the release of 28 F-16s, already paid for by Pakistan, under the October 1990 Pressler Amendment because it was unable to certify that Pakistan did not have a nuclear program.
Pakistan only went public with its nuclear program when it detonated several test devices in May 1998.
Additional economic and military sanctions have been slapped on Pakistan since 1990, largely over the 1998 tests and Musharraf's 1999 coup.
Sanctions on training and hardware sales were lifted rapidly after Musharraf swung Pakistan's support behind US-led efforts to topple its former ally the Taliban in Afghanistan, but there has been little trade.
Bureau Report