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No talk with Musharraf on release of F-16: US
Washington, June 20: US officials today said President George W Bush does not intend to discuss the release of advanced F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan during the upcoming visit of his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf.
Washington, June 20: US officials today said President George W Bush does not intend to discuss the release of advanced F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan during the upcoming
visit of his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf.
They also denied reports that during Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's recent US visit, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld informed him about the "proposed" release of
F-16s to Pakistan.
Media reports have said US planned to release advanced versions of F-16 fighter jets that were sold to Pakistan in late 1980s but were never delivered because of Islamabad's nuclear arms programme. Officials told a news agency they did not expect bush to be talking to Musharraf about any sale of F-16s during his visit.
On a press report about Rumsfeld having briefed Advani on the issue, the officials said, "no US official provided any such information to Deputy Prime Minister Advani." It is learnt that this "guidance" has been sent by the State Department to embassies in both Islamabad and New Delhi.
The Pentagon press office referred all queries on the issue to the State Department, which was in keeping with Rumsfeld's public comment at a press conference that he does not deal with such issues and that these are matters for the President and the State Department.
The United States blocked the delivery to Pakistan of 28 F-16s after deciding it could no longer certify that Pakistan had no nuclear programme. Pakistan went public as a nuclear power in May 1998 when it test-detonated several nuclear devices.
Bureau Report
Media reports have said US planned to release advanced versions of F-16 fighter jets that were sold to Pakistan in late 1980s but were never delivered because of Islamabad's nuclear arms programme. Officials told a news agency they did not expect bush to be talking to Musharraf about any sale of F-16s during his visit.
On a press report about Rumsfeld having briefed Advani on the issue, the officials said, "no US official provided any such information to Deputy Prime Minister Advani." It is learnt that this "guidance" has been sent by the State Department to embassies in both Islamabad and New Delhi.
The Pentagon press office referred all queries on the issue to the State Department, which was in keeping with Rumsfeld's public comment at a press conference that he does not deal with such issues and that these are matters for the President and the State Department.
The United States blocked the delivery to Pakistan of 28 F-16s after deciding it could no longer certify that Pakistan had no nuclear programme. Pakistan went public as a nuclear power in May 1998 when it test-detonated several nuclear devices.
Bureau Report