Washington, June 19: The Bush Administration on Wednesday shot down reports that it intended to resume supply of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, and that it would make an announcement to that effect during military ruler Pervez Musharraf's visit to Washington next week.

Pentagon, State Department and Indian Embassy officials variously described the reports as "incorrect" and "totally false."


The bogey was resurrected by a little-known newsletter called Defence and Foreign Affairs Daily. Citing "highly placed Washington sources," it reported on June 13 that the US Government is preparing to announce sale of new Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to the Pakistan Air Force.



The announcement would be made during Musharraf's visit and the "proposed sale would symbolise the commitment of the US Bush Administration to Pakistan, which is now being seen as increasingly central in the US' emerging strategy to contain Iran and to isolate North Korea," Gregory Copley, the author of the newsletter, said.


Both US administration sources and Indian officials sounded mystified by the report and dismissed it.

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But the Bush administration has so far rebuffed him. Except for resuming supply of spares and supplies for existing US armaments, it has not cleared any major items in keeping with its word to India.

New Delhi has conveyed to US that it will view adversely any offensive military supplies to Pakistan -- especially the F-16s -- given Islamabad's past history of wanton aggression and deploying such arms against India. The administration has also been told that big ticket arms to Pakistan would affect the growing US defence and military relationship with India.

One administration source proffered a very simple explanation to reject the story: The F-16s would cost a packet, and Pakistan, at US mercy even for its economic survival, was in no shape to pay for it.


"Of course there are military aid programs, but some one has to pay for it and I don't think the US Congress or the administration is in such a generous mood, especially since Pakistan faces no threat," the source, a wellplaced official, said.


In previous conversations, officials have said Washington might consider Pakistan's requests for spares for its grounded F-16s -- less than two squadrons of it are now considered airworthy -- but new planes are "out of question." Bureau Report