US Approves “Possible Sale” Of $450 Million F-16 Fleet To Pakistan
US Approves "Possible Sale" Of $450 Million F-16 Fleet To Pakistan
Washington: The Biden management has permitted a $450 million F-sixteen fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan to assist it meet present day and destiny counterterrorism threats, in Washington’s first fundamental protection help to Islamabad in 4 years.
In 2018, Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had suspended about $2 billion in protection resource to Islamabad for failing to clamp down at the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network terror corporations and dismantle their secure havens withinside the country.
In a notification to the United States Congress on Wednesday, the State Department stated it has permitted a likely overseas navy sale of F-sixteen case for sustainment and associated system for an predicted fee of $450 million, arguing that this may maintain Islamabad’s functionality to satisfy present day and destiny counterterrorism threats through keeping its F-sixteen fleet.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency brought the specified certification notifying the Congress of this viable sale on Wednesday.
“The United States Government has notified Congress of a proposed Foreign Military Sales case to maintain the Pakistan Air Force’s F-sixteen programme. Pakistan is an crucial counterterrorism companion, and as a part of longstanding coverage, the US affords lifestyles cycle protection and sustainment applications for US-beginning platforms,” a State Department spokesperson stated.
“Pakistan’s F-sixteen programme is an crucial a part of the wider United States-Pakistan bilateral relationship. The proposed sale will maintain Pakistan’s functionality to satisfy present day and destiny counterterrorism threats through keeping its F-sixteen fleet. The F-sixteen fleet lets in Pakistan to guide counterterrorism operations and we assume Pakistan to take sustained movement in opposition to all terrorist corporations,” the spokesperson stated.
According to the Congressional notification, the proposed sale does now no longer encompass any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions.
It stated that Pakistan has asked to consolidate earlier F-sixteen sustainment and guide instances to guide the Pakistan Air Force F-sixteen fleet through decreasing replica case sports and including extra endured guide elements.
The $450 million overseas navy sale to Pakistan participation in F-sixteen Aircraft Structural Integrity Programme, digital fight worldwide protection help programme, worldwide engine control programme, engine factor development programme, and different technical coordination corporations; plane and engine hardware and software program adjustments and guide and plane and engine spare repair/go back parts.
The Pentagon stated this proposed sale will guide the overseas coverage and countrywide protection targets of the US through permitting Pakistan to maintain interoperability with US and companion forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in practise for destiny contingency operations.
“The proposed sale will keep the sustainment of Pakistan’s F-sixteen fleet, which substantially improves Pakistan’s cappotential to guide counterterrorism operations via its strong air-to-floor functionality. Pakistan will don’t have any problem soaking up those articles and offerings into its armed forces,” it stated.
According to the Congressional notification, the proposed sale of this system and guide will now no longer adjust the simple navy stability withinside the region.
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