The United States has delivered two F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and will hand over another 24 shortly, the U.S. Embassy said. Pakistan received the two planes Tuesday at a ceremony at an air base in the western city of Sargodha attended by U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson and senior Pakistani and
U.S. air force officials.
The 26 aircraft, provided by the U.S. Air Force, will join 34 F-16s already in Pakistan's armory, the statement said Wednesday. They are separate from an order for 18 new F-16 signed last September.
The delivery symbolizes the U.S. intent to remain engaged with Pakistan over the long term, just as we do with any other important ally and friend, Patterson said at the ceremony.
The Bush administration approved the sale of the 18 new jets last year. The package included an option for Pakistan to order more jets and to get used aircraft refurbished.
Pakistan signed a deal with Washington to buy the F-16s in the late 1980s, but the agreement was scrapped in the 1990s when the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Islamabad over its nuclear weapons program.
Although Washington lifted the sanctions because of Islamabad's support for the U.S. war on terror, the sale of the F-16s had remained on hold and some lawmakers have continued to criticize the deal, arguing the planes are more likely to be used in a war with India than against terrorists.