U.S. to make initial shipment of 2 F-16's to Pakistan
Link: http://www.india-defence.com/reports/124
Agency: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two F-16 fighter jets, a down payment on what is expected to be a larger sale of newer U.S. fighters over Indian objections, congressional sources briefed on the plan said on Friday.
The decision to initially provide Pakistan, a war on terrorism ally, with two older but refurbished F-16s comes less than two weeks after President Bush reversed long-standing U.S. policy by promising to help India, Pakistan's nuclear rival, develop its civilian nuclear power sector.
India had expressed concern to Washington about its proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars and were on the brink of another in 2002.
One congressional source said of the timing of the decision, "They (Bush administration officials) didn't want to start moving F-16s to Pakistan until after the Indian prime minister had come and gone."
Read the complete story: U.S. to make initial shipment of 2 F-16's to Pakistan
Link: http://www.india-defence.com/reports/124
Agency: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two F-16 fighter jets, a down payment on what is expected to be a larger sale of newer U.S. fighters over Indian objections, congressional sources briefed on the plan said on Friday.
The decision to initially provide Pakistan, a war on terrorism ally, with two older but refurbished F-16s comes less than two weeks after President Bush reversed long-standing U.S. policy by promising to help India, Pakistan's nuclear rival, develop its civilian nuclear power sector.
India had expressed concern to Washington about its proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan.
Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars and were on the brink of another in 2002.
One congressional source said of the timing of the decision, "They (Bush administration officials) didn't want to start moving F-16s to Pakistan until after the Indian prime minister had come and gone."
Read the complete story: U.S. to make initial shipment of 2 F-16's to Pakistan