Islamabad, June 14 (IANS) The US will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan by the end of this month under a series of tough conditions, including an assurance that Islamabad will not use the planes in any conflict with India.
This is the first time the US has publicly stated that it was taking steps to ensure that its military aid to Pakistan would not be used against India, Online news agency reported.
During last month’s Strategic Dialogue between India and the US, Indian leaders had conveyed to their counterparts their concerns over the US military assistance to Pakistan.
Sources said the US Air Force personnel will arrive during the delivery of the F-16s and supervise not only the air base where they will be deployed but also the operations carried out by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Though the jets will be flown by PAF pilots, the logistics, management and control of the F-16s will be with the US personnel.
The Block 50/52 model F-16 jets equipped with latest missiles will arrive at the Shahbaz Airbase in Jacoabad in the last week of June, the sources said.
